It was a routine visit to the Sector-45 market at 11 am for 62-year-old Nirmal Kanta, a resident of Sector 34, who lost a part of her gold chain during the struggle with the snatchers. “I took a short-cut while returning home and noticed a two men on a motorcycle following me. The pillion rider got down and pulled my chain from behind but I held on to it tight. I shouted for help but they fled,” she said. The snatchers, riding a new Pulsar bike, could not be identified as they were wearing black helmets. A case has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

Now Kanta is worried about her safety. “I will always tremble before going to the market alone now,” she said.

In another incident, snatchers fled with the gold chain of Rakesh Bala, a resident of Sector 19. Bala said she had bought the chain for Rs 25,000.

She was talking to her neighbour outside her house around 11.15 am, when the bikers struck. “I received scratches on the back of my neck and repent going outside,” she said. A case was registered in the Sector 19 police station.