Sketches of suspected chain-snatchers released by the police on Wednesday.

Patna, Sept. 14: Police today released sketches of five persons suspected to be invol- ved in chain-snatching in the state capital.

Experts, based on the description provided by victims, have prepared the sketches. This is a part of the new plan of the police to nab the criminals and check the recent spurt in chain-snatching. Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Kumar recently passed an order in this connection.

The first sketch is of a young man with a wheatish complexion. He was allegedly involved in an incident of chain-snatching at Indira Nagar in Kankerbagh. An FIR about this incident was lodged at the Jakkanpur police station last year.

The second picture is of another youth who is suspected to have looted a chain on Khas Mahal road number 1 in the Kankerbagh area. An FIR for this incident has also been lodged at Jakkanpur police station.

The third picture is of a person who allegedly snatched the gold chain of 80-year-old Janakdulari Devi at MIG Colony under Kankerbagh police station on September 8. An associate accompanied him when he committed the crime.

A youth who stole a chain near Biscomaun Towers under Gandhi Maidan police station is the subject of the fourth sketch.

The last sketch, too, features a youth. An accomplice and he allegedly looted the chain of Jagat Narayan Road resident Urmila Devi on September 11 this year.

Residents have been asked to report to the police if they can identify any of the men in the sketches. The police also said more sketches were being prepared at present.

“It is a time-consuming process. Artists can prepare only two to three sketches in a day. Similar sketches are being prepared in different police stations. We will release them as and when they are ready,” a police officer told The Telegraph.

The police have also been asked to patrol different parts of the city to check criminal activities.

A section of cops is doubtful if the plan would help curb the crime, as similar steps taken in the past have not helped much.