Narayan Swamy
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Apr 21: Beware while you commute in Bangalore. A gang of women identified as ‘Salem Gang,’ keeps a close watch on commuters with an intention of picking pockets, mobiles and even gold ornaments.
 
The gang's existence came to light when one of the members was arrested by the Malleswaram police after she allegedly snatched a mobile of a college student on Wednesday April 16. The accused identified as Priya (25) revealed to the police that the gang had been operating in the city of Bangalore.
 
On Wednesday, Priya got into a BMTC bus at Sheshadripuram and snatched a mobile worth Rs 21,000 from Chaitra, a BCom student. When she got off the bus at Malleswaram, Chaitra found that her mobile was missing and thus began to cry. Sub inspector Srinivas, noticing her problem chased down the bus and caught hold of Priya.

 
Target male

In an astonishing revelation to the police, Priya said that the gang comprised 15 to 20 members and most of them are women. They travel to the city once a week. The team makes their way to Bangalore from Salem in a train and then carries out its operations. The gang members resort to techniques such as cladding themselves in attractive clothes and ornaments to lure male commuters in city buses. They also try their hand at bus stands and other crowded places, she revealed.

Arrested Priya

In the city buses, these female thieves stand near men making advances and diverting their attention so that they can steal their belonging from their pockets. After that they flee the scene without a trace.
 

Pretend to be pregnant

Another trick used to fool the people was that they pretend to be pregnant by stuffing clothes and try to gain sympathy from the people to vacate the seat, after which they put up a drama of sleeping and  stealthily snatch ornaments.