Pune Chain Snatching: 100+ CCTV Cameras Help Crime Branch Track Down Suspect in Two Cases

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 7th September 2026: The Anti-Robbery and Vehicle Theft Squad-2 of the Pune City Crime Branch has arrested a 33-year-old man in connection with two chain-snatching cases registered in Chandan Nagar and Manjari and recovered a motorcycle and gold ornaments collectively valued at ₹4,80,500.

Senior Police Inspector Anjum Bagwan identified the accused as Swapnil Satish Ahire, a resident of Bhekarai Nagar near Sunrise Society, Papade Vasti, Hadapsar. “Ahire was detained in the Wadgaon Sheri area after investigators established his suspected involvement in the two offences,” Bagwan said.

“The first incident occurred on July 29, 2026, near Mamta Society in Wadgaon Sheri, where two men on a motorcycle allegedly snatched a gold chain from a woman’s neck. A case was registered at Chandan Nagar police station under Section 304 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” Bagwan said.

“The second chain-snatching took place on August 27, 2026, near Balaji Kirana Store at Z Corner on Manjari Road in Manjari Budruk. Motorcycle-borne men allegedly snatched a gold chain from a woman, following which a case was registered at Manjari police station under Section 304 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” he said.

Inspector Bagwan said the Crime Branch team examined footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras installed at the crime scenes and in surrounding areas. “The footage helped investigators trace the route taken by the suspect. Based on technical analysis and other information, the team identified Ahire and detained him from Wadgaon Sheri,” he said.

“During questioning, Ahire confessed to his involvement in the offences and admitted that a Honda Shine motorcycle had been used to commit them. The motorcycle was seized, and the accused and the vehicle were handed over to Manjari police station for further investigation,” Bagwan said.

“The investigation also revealed that the stolen gold ornaments had allegedly been sold to Vishal Sudhakar Malve, 48, a goldsmith from Hadapsar Gaothan. In a joint operation with officers and personnel from Manjari police station, the stolen ornaments were recovered,” he added.

“The seized property comprises a motorcycle valued at ₹60,000 and 11 grams of gold ornaments worth ₹4,20,500. The total value of the recovered property is ₹4,80,500,” Inspector Bagwan added.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Tejaswi Satpute, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gauhar Hasan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shankar Khatke.

The investigating team comprised Senior Police Inspector Anjum Bagwan, Assistant Police Inspector Mohsin Pathan, Police Sub-Inspector Santosh Tanawade, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Kailas Chavan and Jyotiba Kurale, and police personnel Paresh Sawant, Prafull More, Vijay Awale, Pandurang Nanekar, Rahul Ingle and Vikrant Saswadkar.