Snatch theft

It is typical for two thieves to work together and ride a motorcycle, moped, or other type of motorbike to make theft and escape easier. One person steers the vehicle while another, the snatcher, does the act of theft itself.The Borneo Post January 9, 2016 [http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/01/09/comatose-snatch-theft-victim-regains-consciousness/ Comatose snatch theft victim regains consciousness] "she fell victim to a snatcher" However, some snatch thieves work aloneTribune India August 30, 2015 12:41AM [http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/cities/bathinda/woman-shows-exemplary-courage-pulls-down-snatcher-from-his-motorbike/126187.html Woman shows exemplary courage, pulls down snatcher from his motorbike] or do not use a vehicle to escape.

In Argentina this form of robbery increased by 118% between the years 2008 and 2009,{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarin.com/ultimo-momento/ano-duplicaron-ciudad-denuncias-motochorros_0_Skx7ZPLC6tg.html|title=En un año, se duplicaron en la Ciudad las denuncias contra motochorros|website=www.clarin.com|date=14 May 2010 }} possibly because motorbikes have become a lot cheaper and more accessible to the public. In that country, the perpetrators are called motochorros, a neologism from the words moto (motorcycle) and chorro (a vulgar term for "thief").

In Indonesia, snatchers who usually operate while riding motorcycles are locally known as jambret.{{cite web| url = https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/07/10/from-jambret-to-begal-a-glossary-of-criminals-.html| title = From 'jambret' to 'begal': A glossary of criminals - City - The Jakarta Post}}

A growing problem in Malaysia, some instances of snatch theft have caused fatalities, when the person holding onto the handbag has been dragged by the motorbike, or through subsequent acts of violence. This, combined with the apparent lack of police control over crime, has prompted outrage among its citizens enough to resort to vigilantism in apprehending thieves.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Rosdi M.S.|first=and Ahmad N.|date=18 September 2016|title=Smart Handbag System with Location Tracking|url=http://www.arpnjournals.org/jeas/research_papers/rp_2016/jeas_0916_4995.pdf|access-date=2021-05-17|website=ARPN Journals}}

In the Philippines, a crime including snatch theft that is committed by two persons or more is called "riding in tandem".{{cite news|url=http://opinion.inquirer.net/79545/riding-in-tandem|title='Riding in tandem'|last=Tan|first=Michael|date=October 24, 2014|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|accessdate=August 5, 2014}} The term normally applies to two men riding on a motorcycle in tandem. The phrase "riding in tandem" was suggested as a 2014 "Filipino word of the year".{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/09/25/1373094/selfie-imba-peg-nominated-word-year|title='Selfie', 'imba', 'peg' nominated 'word of the year'|date=September 25, 2014|accessdate=August 5, 2014|newspaper=The Philippine Star|last=Viray|first=Patricia Lourdes}}

In Mandaluyong, an ordinance was passed to counter the crimes committed by persons riding in tandem.{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/635303/mandaluyong-channels-colombia-law-vs-men-riding-in-tandem|title=Mandaluyong channels Colombia law vs men riding-in-tandem|last=Sabillo|first=Kristine Angeli|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=September 4, 2014|accessdate=August 5, 2016}} For easy identification, Dagupan, Cotabato City, Dumaguete and Batac have local laws prohibiting motorcycle riders from wearing helmets.{{cite news|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=OnlineExclusive&title=by-the-numbers-riding-in-tandem&id=93063|title=By the numbers: Riding in tandem|last=Medina|first=Troy|date=August 20, 2014|newspaper=BusinessWorld|accessdate=August 5, 2016}} In Quezon City, the local police considered a measure that would require riders of motorcycles to wear vests displaying the license plate numbers of their vehicles.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304479/news/metro/qc-motorbike-riders-to-get-vests-printed-with-plate-numbers|title=QC motorbike riders to get vests printed with plate numbers|last=Cayabyab|first=Marc Jayson|date=April 18, 2013|accessdate=August 5, 2016|newspaper=GMA News}}

Due to the rise of riding in tandem crimes, Philippine Senator Tito Sotto proposed a bill that would allow motorcycles to be ridden only by one person, with some exceptions.{{cite news|url=http://interaksyon.com/article/93132/riding-in-tandem--sotto-wants-ban-on-back-riders|title=RIDING IN TANDEM : Sotto wants ban on back-riders|last=Reyes|first=Ernie|date=August 12, 2014|accessdate=August 5, 2016|newspaper=InterAksyon}} According to the Philippine National Police, there were more than 3,000 cases involving crimes related to "riding in tandem".{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/metro-manila/01/28/14/pnp-riding-tandem-cases-reached-3000-2013|title=PNP: 'Riding-in-tandem' cases reached 3,000 in 2013|last=Sevidal|first=Edwin|date=January 28, 2014|accessdate=August 5, 2016|newspaper=ABS-CBN News}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.drcheah.com/archives/2004_10_01_archive.html Declare War on Snatch Thieves]
• [http://malaysiacrimewatch.lokety.com Malaysia Crime Watch]

Category:Theft

Category:Crime in the Philippines