New Delhi, Sep 4 (IANS): A gang of six women thieves were arrested here on Friday morning in connection with their involvement in several cases of stealing in Metro coaches, police said.

Laxmi, 30, the gang leader, was arrested from Chandni Chowk Metro station along with her associates Lalita, 25, Bareli, 30, Sharda, 25, Rakhi, 26, and Meena, 30.

"They used to travel in Metros and target women passengers carrying shoulder bags," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Delhi Metro) Jitendra Mani said.

Mani said that the gang used to target the purse kept within the shoulder bag, which women generally carry.

"After finding a prey, the gang used to surround the target inside the Metro or other places like escalators. One of them, taking advantage of crowd, would pick the purse from the bag of the passenger by opening its zip and pass it on to her associates," the officer said.

According to the officer, all the gang members had also been arrested earlier in cases of thefts and pick-pocketing in Metro coaches.

"Their arrest led us to solve a case of theft of a purse containing Rs.15,000 cash and jewellery articles worth Rs.4 lakh," he said.