Police in Gujarat have arrested a 46-year-old man for allegedly snatching a gold chain from a senior citizen while posing as an e-commerce delivery agent in Vadodara. The accused, identified as Kishor alias Ajay Machhi, was apprehended in Bharuch town just hours after committing the crime on Friday evening.
The Modus Operandi: A Disguised Threat
According to police reports, the incident occurred in the Akota area of Vadodara. 74-year-old Hasmukh Patel was sitting in his villa's courtyard when a man wearing an orange T-shirt of a popular e-commerce platform arrived at his gate, holding a parcel. Believing him to be a genuine delivery agent, Patel approached the gate to collect the item. In a swift move, the impersonator snatched the gold chain from Patel's neck and fled the scene before the elderly man could even unlock the gate.
Police Inspector V A Dodiya of Bharuch C-Division police station stated that Machhi had been specifically targeting senior citizens using this method. "He dressed up as a delivery agent. On January 1, he made a similar attempt in Bharuch town but was unsuccessful. He then went to Vadodara and committed the offence," Dodiya explained.
A Hardened Criminal's New Tactic
Investigations revealed that Machhi is a repeat offender with a long criminal history. Police described him as a hardened criminal who has recently adopted a new strategy to avoid consequences. To escape vehicle confiscation, which had hampered his operations in the past, he began using rented two-wheelers to commit his crimes.
"The two-wheeler used for the offence has been rented for a month. He realised over the years that confiscation of the vehicles hampers his next move. So, now that the two-wheeler will be confiscated, it will not be his loss," Inspector Dodiya added, highlighting the calculated nature of the accused's plans.
Swift Arrest and Extensive Criminal Record
After the snatching, Patel immediately filed a complaint at the Akota police station. Police examined CCTV footage and launched a probe. However, Machhi had already fled to Bharuch. His luck ran out on Friday night when Bharuch C-Division police officers, acting on a tip-off, arrested him.
The initial probe has uncovered a shocking criminal record. Machhi has close to 28 cases of theft and chain snatching registered against him at various police stations across Gujarat since 2005. These cases span multiple districts including Gandhinagar, Anand, Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Kheda, and Junagadh.
Due to his repeated offences, he has previously been sent to Porbandar Jail under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985. This law allows for the preventive detention of individuals involved in habitual criminal activities.
Police Inspector DV Baldaniya of Akota Police station confirmed that the process to seek Machhi's custody through a transfer order has been initiated. "We have lodged an offence based on the complaint of the senior citizen on Friday. The accused has been nabbed in Bharuch town and we have initiated the process to seek his custody on transfer order," Baldaniya said.
The case underscores a growing concern regarding criminals exploiting the ubiquitous presence of delivery personnel to gain easy access to homes and target vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly.
