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Snatch theft is a criminal act, common in Southeast Asia, South America and Southern Europe, of forcefully stealing from a pedestrian's person while employing rob-and-run tactics. It is typical for two thieves to work together and ride a moped to make theft and escape easier. A 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 motorcycle to rob.
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.
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" (vulgar term for thief).
Riding in tandem
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 one of 2014's Filipino word of the year. In Mandaluyong City, an ordinance was passed to counter the crimes committed by persons riding in tandem. For easy identification, Dagupan City, Cotabato City and Batac, Ilocos Norte have local laws prohibiting motorcycle riders to wear helmets. In Quezon City, the local police is considering a measure that would maker riders of motorcycles to wear vests with the plate numbers of their vehicle. 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, there were more than 3,000 cases involving crimes related to "riding in tandem."