'Wear Minimal Jewellery': Greater Noida Society Issues Advisory Amid 'Rise In Snatching Incidents'

The advisory alleged police inaction, and asked residents to write posts on X and tag all the top police officers’ official handles if the local police refuse to register an FIR.

Amid an alleged rise in cases of chain- and mobile-snatching near a society in Greater Noida, an advisory was circulated on Sunday, asking residents to wear minimal jewellery outside and to be alert of their surroundings. 

According to a Hindustan Times report, the advisory was issued by Vijay Chauhan, a society representative of Supertech Ecovillage-1 in Greater Noida West, on the residents’ WhatsApp group. It came after a resident said two bike-borne thieves tried to snatch her chain in the morning near Gate No. 3.

The advisory said “mobile snatching and chain snatching on the road have increased significantly around Ecovillage-1”, adding that two incidents had occurred in just the last two days. It said police had proved to be “unsuccessful” at stopping it and requested residents to be cautious while walking on the road so that no untoward incident happens. It also advised residents to wear minimal jewellery.

According to The Times Of India, there are two police chowkis within a 500-metre radius of the society, but such incidents remain common. 

On Monday, senior police officials said pending mobile-phone and chain-snatching cases were being worked on, and the culprits would be arrested soon. 

The advisory also stated that, due to the alleged inaction of the police officials, residents should write posts on X and tag all the top police officers’ official handles if the local police refuse to register an FIR.

On June 30, a resident’s chain was snatched in front of Gate No. 1A. Police reportedly refused to register an FIR, according to Chauhan, as quoted by HT. He then spoke about the incident that occurred on Sunday, adding that the chain snatchers' attempt failed. He said these incidents had “instilled fear among the residents”.

A resident, Ranjana Suri, told TOI that, while jewellery is meant to be worn outside, the residents do not have that luxury. She said she couldn’t wear artificial jewellery as it doesn’t suit her body so she prefers to wear gold or diamond jewellery, “but it is too risky to wear it here. 

The local Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) had a meeting with residents on Sunday evening. Residents were informed that police patrolling had been increased, and the society’s security team had also been asked to inform the police if they saw any suspicious activity, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Central Noida Suniti said, as quoted by HT. 

The DCP said that, as soon as a complaint is received, an FIR would be registered.