According to the data, CISF has caught 373 pickpockets in this year till now out of which 329 are women. The ratio of women pickpockets was almost similar in 2016 when CISF personnel caught 438 female suspected pickpockets and only 41 male pickpockets. 

Explaining the usual methods followed by these pickpockets, police said, the women operate in gangs in which some of the women are accompanied by toddlers. The apt catch for the pickpockets is a crowded train where a woman is tasked to distract a passenger by engaging in a conversation or draw attention to the child. Once the attention of a passenger is diverted, the woman’s other partner strikes. 

The CISF data has also enlisted eight metro stations which are most prone to pickpocketing incidents. They include: Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Shahdara, HUDA City Centre, Rajiv Chowk, Kirti Nagar, New Delhi and Tughlakabad. 

The HT report also said the CISF has established anti-theft squad at every line. However, the policy doesn’t seem to have much impact. 

In this month alone, CISF has already nabbed 52 women pickpockets. 

Feature image source: PTI/Representational Image