Spate of unsolved thefts and chain snatching alarms Salcete residents

MARGAO: The surge in thefts and chain snatching incidents in Salcete is causing alarm among residents, particularly senior citizens who live and commute alone.

This month, two cases of mangalsutra snatching targeting senior women have been reported in broad daylight, intensifying worries as the perpetrators remain at large.

In the first incident, two unknown individuals engaged a 63-year-old woman in conversation outside her Davorlim residence, while one snatched her mangalsutra valued at Rs 1.90 lakh. Both fled the scene. The Maina-Curtorim police have filed a case against the unidentified culprits under Sections 356 and 379 of the IPC, but no arrests have been made.

In the second incident, a motorcycle rider snatched a woman’s mangalsutra and other gold ornaments worth Rs one lakh as she walked along the road in Aquem.

In Dicarpale recently, an unidentified man broke into a house and stole gold ornaments and cash worth approximately Rs 1.75 lakh. Maina-Curtorim police have yet to make any arrests despite registering a case under Section 379 of the IPC. Shanti Kamble filed a complaint stating that the thief entered her house through the rear entrance.

Furthermore, in Chinchinim, Zahir Jewellery shop was burglarised, resulting in the theft of gold ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh. Although Cuncolim police arrested four individuals, they have not recovered the stolen goods.

Last year, thefts were reported in six schools across South Goa, with thieves targeting valuable items, including cash, CCTV, and DVR systems.

These incidents have raised concerns among school authorities, parents, and residents, as police investigations have yet to yield any breakthroughs.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior police officer stated they are exploring potential connections between these thefts due to similarities in the modus operandi, suggesting a coordinated effort. Police have interrogated several suspects, and investigations are ongoing.

The schools that were broken into include St Jude’s High School, Regina Martyrum High School, and Fr Basilio Andrade Memorial Higher Secondary School in Salcete, as well as a higher secondary school in Dapot-Mashem and Shri Shradhanand Vidyalaya School in Canacona. Matoshree Baburao Khandeparkar High School in Khandepar was also targeted in a robbery.