We are watchful of women thieves too

CHENNAI: If men indulge in chain snatching and picking pockets, their female counterparts concentrate on lifting the handbags of women passengers. “Such thieves usually carry tiny bags or a child on their shoulders and travel as passengers in the ladies compartments,” said Revathi, a constable of the Government Railway Police from Arakkonam, who is part of the flying squad. “As soon as suspicious people are noticed, we ask them to furnish tickets. The police personnel also carry photographs of habitual women offenders operating on trains and railway premises,” she said.Asked how the squad dealt with passengers inside the coaches, she said female passengers were alerted to be careful about gold ornaments and handbags. “But the warnings evoke queries from commuters. We show the police identity card and then they (passengers) listen to us,” she stated. According to top officials with GRP, members of the squad will change periodically – about once in ten days – to ensure that criminals do not identify them.