Tension gripped a Greater Noida apartment complex after police shot an armed chain snatcher during a tense standoff in an elevator. The dramatic shootout came moments after the criminal’s failed robbery attempt on a terrified resident.
According to police reports, the sequence began when 32-year-old victim Priya Sharma entered the lift in her Sector 22 building. The masked assailant followed her inside and brandished a knife, demanding her gold mangalsutra. Sharma’s desperate resistance triggered the alarm, alerting security.
Arriving officers found the suspect barricaded in the lift, refusing to surrender. As he lunged at the police team with his weapon, sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar fired a warning shot followed by a targeted bullet that wounded the attacker’s lower limb. The operation lasted just 15 minutes but showcased remarkable police coordination.
The accused, a serial offender from Shahberi area with five previous arrests, confessed to planning more lift robberies. Authorities seized his knife, stolen jewelry worth ₹2 lakh, and a stolen motorcycle used for escape. ‘Our women are safe now,’ declared the relieved apartment association president.
In response to rising lift crimes, police announced installation of CCTV cameras with panic buttons in all high-rise elevators across the district. The incident has sparked community discussions on personal safety measures for solo women residents.
