Two habitual chain snatchers traced to Delhi, gold recovered

Two habitual offenders involved in a series of gold chain snatching incidents across the LB Nagar zone were arrested by the Chaitanyapuri police on Tuesday. The accused were traced to Delhi in an inter-State operation, and the stolen gold chains were recovered.

The accused, identified as Akshay Kumar Sharma, 29, and Rohit, 26, both working as delivery boys and residents of Delhi-NCR, targeted women while riding a two-wheeler.

Investigations revealed that the duo used the same motorcycle earlier in the day to commit a theft in Gopalapuram before moving through Hayathnagar, Nagole and Chaitanyapuri. After carrying out the chain snatchings, they abandoned the motorcycle near Sangeetha Theatre X roads in Secunderabad and fled to Delhi.

Following the incidents, the Chaitanyapuri police formed three special teams and launched an investigation using CCTV footage, call detail records and other technical surveillance. Based on the evidence collected, one team travelled to Delhi and apprehended both accused, seizing the entire stolen property.

Police recovered three gold chains weighing a total of more than 55 grams, including a 6.4-gram chain linked to a Chaitanyapuri case, a 20.8-gram chain from a Nagole case and a 28-gram chain from a Hayathnagar case. Two mobile phones used by the accused were also seized.

Officials said both men are habitual offenders with a long criminal history involving property offences in Delhi and Nagpur. Akshay Kumar Sharma is facing at least 21 cases of chain snatching, theft and arms-related offences registered across multiple police stations in Delhi between 2017 and 2024, apart from recent cases in Nagpur. Rohit too was found to be involved in 13 similar cases registered in Delhi and Nagpur.

Investigators revealed that the accused had been arrested by Nagpur police in July 2025 and sent to jail. After being released, they resumed criminal activities and were involved in at least seven chain snatching incidents in areas including Nacharam, Jawaharnagar, Shameerpet, Hayathnagar, Nagole and Chaitanyapuri before the January 17 incidents.

The Chaitanyapuri police said they have detected and linked the accused to nine cases registered across Hyderabad and Malkajgiri zones.

L.B. Nagar zone Deputy Commissioner of Police B. Anuradha has appealed to the public to remain alert in crowded and isolated areas in view of recent snatching incidents and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or by dialling 100.