Snatch theft is a

criminal In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Can ...

act, common in Southeast Asia, South America, and Southern Europe, of forcefully stealing a pedestrian's personal property by employing rob-and-run tactics.

Description

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. However, some snatch thieves work alone or do not use a vehicle to escape.

Argentina

In Argentina this form of robbery increased by 118% between the years 2008 and 2009, 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").

Indonesia

In Indonesia, snatchers who usually operate while riding motorcycles are locally known as ''jambret''.

Malaysia

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 take justice into their own hands in apprehending thieves.

Philippines

In the Philippines, a crime including snatch theft that is committed by two persons or more is called "riding in tandem". 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". In Mandaluyong, an ordinance was passed to counter the crimes committed by persons riding in tandem. For easy identification, Dagupan, Cotabato City, Dumaguete and Batac have local laws prohibiting motorcycle riders from wearing helmets. 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. 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. According to the

Philippine National Police The Philippine National Police ( fil, Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, acronymed as PNP) is the armed national police force in the Philippines. Its national headquarters is located at Camp Crame in Bagong Lipunan ng Crame, Quezon City. Current ...

, there were more than 3,000 cases involving crimes related to "riding in tandem".

References

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External links

Declare War on Snatch Thieves

Malaysia Crime Watch
Theft Crime in the Philippines