Chandigarh, April 15 -- For most of us, the spaces around our homes - the lanes, the parks, and the neighbourhood markets - evoke a sense of safety. But in Chandigarh, it's in these very spaces that snatchers pick their targets. Reason: The city's internal roads and lanes are not covered by the Rs.1,600+ crore smart surveillance network, which only monitors the major roads (V1 to V4).

What's worrying is that snatchers are not only aware of these gaps, they are also systematically using these "blind spots" to escape after committing the crime.

Case in point: On March 11, police busted a six-member "Activa gang" operating out of areas, including Sector 41 and Buterla. The group revealed that they used to approach elderly persons and women...