India, May 27 -- The Navi Mumbai Police on May 23 invoked the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against an organised chain-snatching gang that targeted women in the Airoli and Rabale areas. Four persons have been arrested so far, including a woman and a jeweller who bought the stolen items from the gang.

The Rabale police had been tracking the gang since three chain-snatching incidents were reported in Airoli on the same day, March 24. In those incidents, motorcycle-borne men allegedly brandished knives and snatched gold chains and mangalsutras from women out on the roads.

Upon deeper probing, the police found that 14 serious criminal offences were registered against the gang's leader and mem...