A group of youngsters masquerading as policemen is robbing women of their jewellery on the city streets.

Manorama Agarwal had a first-hand experience of the crime in upscale Rajendra Nagar on Thursday. She was intercepted by three youths on a motorbike near a reputable public school around 9am and robbed of her jewellery she was wearing.

The youths in the age group of 20-25 years introduced themselves as cops on patrol deployed to check petty crime.

"Don't you know anti-socials snatched a gold chain from a woman last evening?" one of the youths told Manorama, a homemaker, to win over her confidence. She then kept her gold chain and earrings in her bag. One of the youths then stepped forward to help her keep the jewellery safely in the bag. The youths fled with the bag as soon as Manorama handed it over.

Station house officer of Kadamkuan Sarwar Alam said a complaint has been lodged against unidentified persons.

A senior officer said similar incidents were reported from Airport police station area.