Chaitanyapuri police arrest two habitual chain snatchers

Hyderabad: Chaitanyapuri police arrested two habitual chain snatchers in Delhi and recovered stolen gold jewellery, detecting a series of chain snatching cases reported across the LB Nagar and Malkajgiri zones, police said on Saturday.

The accused were identified as Akshay Kumar Sharma, 29, and Rohit, 26, both working as delivery boys and natives of Delhi and Gurugram. Police said special teams traced and apprehended the duo in Delhi after analysing technical evidence, including CCTV footage and call detail records.

According to investigators, the accused committed multiple chain snatchings on January 17, 2026, targeting women in Hayathnagar, Nagole and Chaitanyapuri police station limits. The duo used a stolen Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle, which they later abandoned near Sangeetha Theatre crossroads in Secunderabad before fleeing to Delhi.

Police seized three gold chains weighing a total of 55.2 grams and two mobile phones from the accused. The recovered jewellery was linked to cases registered at Chaitanyapuri, Nagole and Hayathnagar police stations.

Chaitanyapuri police arrest exposes long criminal history

Investigators said both accused were habitual offenders with a long record of property crimes. Akshay Kumar Sharma was previously involved in over 20 cases, including chain snatching, theft and Arms Act offences registered at various police stations in Delhi and Nagpur. Rohit was named in more than a dozen similar cases in Delhi and Nagpur.

Police said the accused were earlier arrested by Nagpur police in July 2025 and jailed. After their release, they allegedly resumed criminal activity and committed seven chain snatchings in Nacharam, Jawaharnagar, Shameerpet, Hayathnagar, Nagole and Chaitanyapuri limits before the January 17 incidents.

Chaitanyapuri police detected nine cases linked to the duo, registered between 2025 and 2026 at police stations in Hyderabad and Malkajgiri commissionerates.

The arrests were made under the supervision of Additional DCP B. Koteshwar Rao and ACP A. Krishnaiah. A team led by Inspector S. Guruswami travelled to Delhi and apprehended the accused after sustained surveillance.

The Malkajgiri police commissioner commended the Chaitanyapuri police team for swiftly solving the cases and announced rewards for the officers involved. Police also urged the public to remain alert in crowded and isolated areas and report suspicious activity immediately by dialling 100 or contacting the nearest police station.