Snatch Theft

The forceful and sudden seizure of a pedestrian's personal property, commonly a bag, phone or piece of jewelry, using rob-and-run tactics that give the victim no chance to resist; the crime is especially common in parts of Southeast Asia, South America and Southern Europe. It is frequently carried out by two people working together, one steering a motorcycle or other vehicle while the other, the snatcher, grabs the item and flees, though the offense also occurs on foot or without a getaway vehicle. Regional terms for the crime and its perpetrators vary widely, including motochorros in Argentina, jambret in Indonesia, and riding in tandem in the Philippines when carried out by two people on a motorcycle. Because it involves the forcible taking of property directly from a person rather than simple unnoticed theft, it is treated in some jurisdictions as a form of robbery rather than ordinary theft, and in Malaysia snatch theft has at times proven fatal when victims were dragged or otherwise subjected to violence during the crime.