Terror on two wheels

Motorbike theft and crime shoot up as wary Mumbaikars learn speed kills in broad daylight

Motorbike theft and crime shoot up as wary Mumbaikars learn speed kills in broad daylight

Beena Dedhia of Parel paid with her life after she scuffled with two motorbike riding thieves, who first took her husband's gold chain and cash and then demanded her gold earrings. Dedhia was killed in the tussle. It is a death that has torn the early morning serenity of Parel to shreds.

Parul Gandhi was robbed by a biker last month PIC/ MAHANAND GUPTA

Almost everybody has a horror story to tell.

Like Santacruz resident Parul Gandhi, who was robbed as recently as September 2009. Gandhi says, "My rickshaw stopped at a signal at the busy Linking Road and a motorbike stopped next to me. Just as the signal changed from red to green, the pillion rider leaned over and grabbed my bag. He pulled it so hard that if I had hung on to it, I would have surely fallen out of the rickshaw." Gandhi gave chase in the rickshaw, "We chased the mo'bike till Carter Road after which they gave us the slip." She lodged a police complaint, about the incident that occurred on a Sunday afternoon, at the Khar police station since she had lost Rs 8,000, her pan card, cell phone and credit cards.

Last year, Mumbai resident Khadija, who did not wish to reveal her second name, was commuting in a rickshaw in Pune. It was broad daylight and the rickshaw was on the move. Khadija explains, "Suddenly, a bike pulled up next to the rickshaw, which was still moving and the pillion rider grabbed my bag." A shocked Khadija lost money, credit cards, her cell phone and house keys.

It has been two years since the incident when Parel resident Perizad Jilla was returning home from her office located in the crowded Prabhadevi area. She was at the corner of Sayani Road junction in the evening, reading an SMS on her phone when two men on a motorcycle made away with her mobile phone worth Rs 25,000. To her shock, Jilla found that the cops who were seated opposite the crime spot failed to take action. "When I asked them what they were doing, they said they were posted there to look after the traffic and not thefts."

The anguished victim then lodged a complaint at Shaitan Chowkie police station but eventually dropped the idea of claiming her phone after it was found because of the tedious legal procedures "I have learnt that in our system, being a victim is very expensive while the criminal goes free," says Jilla.

Cop talks detection
Sanjay Barve, Joint Commissioner of Police, (traffic) says, "These crimes will reduce in future when the entire city, or large swathes of it will come under Closed Circuit TV. (CCTV). Of course, there will be some places which may not have the electronic eye, but crimes like these will be easier to detect."

Dos and Don'ts
Himanshu Roy, Joint Commissioner of Police, (Law and Order), says that crimes are a rare occurrence in open stretches. "Assailants usually operate in areas where there are a number of bylanes and gullies that afford a quick getaway," he says. So stay on well-lit main roads and keep away from the smaller lanes.

Be alert, says Roy. "Be aware, gather as much information as possible. Notice as much as you can about your assailant's look, clothes, features, keep absorbing that will help in detection," adds Roy, "There are certain pockets of this city which are especially vulnerable to this kind of crime. I am not at liberty to reveal exact details, but we have identified these spots. A well-known park in central Mumbai near Matunga is one of them.

These are under greater scrutiny." Roy says.

Mumbai's well-known karate instructor Hosi Batlivala, says, "I would advise women to pursue some kind of sport or learn a martial art. Their confidence levels will increase and their reactions will be quicker."

For trained persons, Batlivala says, "Hit back with whatever is available. You have a deo in your purse, pretend you are looking for money and spray it in his eyes. If you are facing your attacker, kick him in the groin."

Batlivala admits though that these are only suggestions, it is difficult to implement them in every situation. "But one thing is certain, if the public comes together on a busy road, then it is possible to fight back. Too often, there is just one person trying to help but that does not work. Everybody should fight back. Mumbaikars, be ashamed of looking the other way."

CRIME SCORE
COMPARATIVE STATS FOR CRIMES REPORTED IN '08u00a0AND '09, FROM MUMBAI POLICE



HOW BIKER GANGS WORK

1.
TEAM EFFORT
The rider is responsible for the getaway while the pillion rider snatches the bag, mobile.

2.
SHOCK TACTICS
The attackers have often slapped, punched, pulled and pushed victims to stun them initially.

3.
SPEED DEMONS
The bike affords a speedy, hard-to-chase getaway.

4.
DISGUISE
They often wear helmets or a cloth on the face to escape identification.

5.
NUMBER KYA HAI
They often overwrite or change their license plates.