Pune police arrest habitual chain snatcher after tracing him through over 250 CCTV cameras

Pune: The Chaturshringi police have arrested a habitual offender who targeted pedestrians and forcibly snatched gold ornaments from their necks before fleeing, after ten days of sustained effort. The police traced him by examining footage from more than 250 CCTV cameras in different parts of the city. He was chased down and taken into custody on the Pune-Solapur highway in the Hadapsar area.

The arrested accused is Rajabhau alias Raju Khemu Rathod (44). He lives at Lane No. 4, Arvi Gaon, Sai Road, Latur district, and his native village is Ekambi Tanda, Ausa taluka, Latur district. The operation was carried out by Assistant Inspector Aniket Pote and his team, under the guidance of Senior Inspector Uttam Bhajanawale and Police Inspector (Crime) Shital Jadhav.

The case began last month, on October 20, 2026, at around 9 am. According to the complaint, the complainant was walking when the accused, who came on a two-wheeler, forcibly snatched the gold mangalsutra from their neck. A case was registered at Chaturshringi police station.

During the investigation, the police examined CCTV footage for ten consecutive days. They traced the accused by viewing recordings from more than 250 cameras in Aundh, Pashan, Baner, Bavdhan, Kothrud, Sus, Lavale, Dhayari, Nanapeth and Hadapsar. The accused was then chased and caught in the Hadapsar area on the Pune-Solapur highway.

During the investigation, the two-wheeler used in the crime and the property snatched in the robbery were recovered from the accused. The police seized goods worth a total of Rs 3.93 lakh, including the two-wheeler and the stolen property.

More than 70 cases recorded: The police said the arrested man is a habitual criminal and more than 70 cases of robbery are registered against him in Pune city, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Latur, Nashik and Satara. More cases may therefore be solved through him. Assistant Inspector Aniket Pote is conducting the further investigation.