Cuttack, Aug. 5: A seven member chain-snatching gang and a goldsmith were arrested by Cantonment police today.

Five gold chains worth Rs 1.5 lakh, a car and a motorcycle were recovered from them.

The gang has been active here for the past three years and its members have admitted involvement in a series of chain snatching incidents.

The accused have been identified as Trinath Sahoo, 25, and Bikaya Sahoo, 24, of Banki, Sk Musharaf, 20, Sk Nasir, 21, Sayeed Manwar, 19, of Pattapole, Sk Raju, 26, and Sk Fayaz, 24, of Sutahat.

Apart from the seven accused, goldsmith Debendra Sahoo, 45, of Mohammadia Bazaar, has also been arrested for his involvement in disposing of the stolen gold ornaments.

Cantonment police officials said the gang used to target women and senior citizens, snatch their gold chains and decamp on motorcycles.

On July 6, the gang had stolen a gold chain from one Gayatri Samal, wife of Odia film comedian Jai Samal, from near YMCA.

On July 22, a lady clerk posted at the office of the director general of police was targeted by the gang members near KVK Road.

The gang was also involved in a number of burglary incidents. They have confessed to having robbed cash worth Rs 70,000 and gold ornaments worth Rs 1.5 lakh from the house of a medical representative near Chandi Mandir on July 20.

Cantonment police inspector in charge K. Sahu said that after committing the burglary, the gang members had fled in a car bearing a Bhubaneswar registration number.

“We have managed to nab seven members of the gang while two accused are still absconding. Efforts are on to nab them,” said additional deputy commissioner of police Bidyutlata Nayak.

The gang was also involved in snatching of a gold chain from one Manjushree Jena, 55, while the latter was standing outside her house at Gayatri Vihar on May 23.

The gang members had also looted a gold chain from a woman, who was travelling in an autorickshaw, near Mission Road on July 30.