On CCTV, but temple thieves remain at large

July 10, 2009

NEW DELHI: More than a week after two incidents of chain snatching were reported from the high-security Sai Baba temple in Lodhi Colony last

Thursday, no headway has been made despite the fact that the CCTV has captured two thieves taking away the gold chains. The first incident was reported around 8.30pm when vikram Nayar, an HRD consultant, and his friend Helena Henia, who used to work for an embassy in Delhi, were in the temple. Nayar said: "We were standing in a queue when someone flicked the chain, worth Rs 15,000, from my friend's neck. She came to know when the locket fell on the ground.'' Few minutes later, a computer professional became the victim of chain snatchers. Naveen Sethi, working with a computer manufacturing company, had gone to the temple along with his wife and two children. "We were standing in the queue and as I reached near the statue, I found my gold chain, worth Rs 35,000, missing.'' Sethi complained that it took him two days to get a copy of the FIR. "The cops initially insisted that we should write a theft complaint.

They tried their best to make it look like a theft case,'' he said. Police said that due to huge rush of devotees on Thursday, it is difficult to check each and every person and admitted that several cases of pick pocketing and mobile theft were reported. "We have registered a case and are investigating the matter. The help of CCTV installed inside the temple is also being sought. The security around the area has been beefed up,'' said a senior police officer. Both the victims complained that the CCTV grab is not very clear due to poor quality of the equipment. "The cameras do not have a clear zooming image and it is very difficult to get a clear picture from the CCTV,'' added Nayar.