The Shivaji Park police busted a gang of cellphone phone thieves who operated in heavy crowds during festive seasons like Ganeshotsav and stealthily snatched the electronics. Five accused, all residents of Madhya Pradesh, were arrested and 18 cellphones worth `2.63 lakh were recovered from them.
Last week, at around 6.30 pm, PI Parshuram Kakad, PSI Rishi Inamdar, along with five other constables were patrolling the market area outside the western exit of Dadar railway station when they found two persons moving about in a suspicious manner.
“After they spotted the police, the two attempted to run away, but were caught and brought to the police station for questioning. The two were identified as Ajit Ashok Rathod (19) and Shesing Mansingh Rathod (22), both hailing from the Khandwa district in MP. During interrogation, they admitted to have stolen cellphones in the Shivaji Park police’s jurisdiction and were subsequently placed under arrest,” said DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni.
They also revealed the names of their four others accomplices who were set to meet them to buy the stolen electronics. The police then laid a trap and held them.
“They operated by confusing the victim by inconspicuously surrounding him or her in a crowded place and distracting them, while one of them snatched or simply took away the cellphone,” explained Mr Kulkarni.
The police recovered 18 cellphones from them.