New Delhi, May 29: The Delhi Police‘s Crime Branch has successfully dismantled an inter-state gang involved in the theft of mobile phones during IPL matches, arresting four suspects in the process. Along with the arrests, police recovered 15 stolen high-end mobile phones.
The operation was led by Inspector Gurmeet Singh and closely guided by ACP Sunil Srivastava, with a dedicated team from the Eastern Range-I of the Crime Branch. The gang was known for targeting audiences at various IPL match venues across different states.
The arrests were made near the Singhu border in Delhi, where the suspects were apprehended with nine iPhones among the stolen devices. These phones were linked to thefts that occurred during recent IPL matches in Dharamshala and Mohali. The suspects have a history of involvement in theft and other criminal activities, prompting further investigation and recovery efforts by the police.
The Crime Branch had been gathering intelligence on organized gangs involved in mobile phone and valuable item thefts during major sporting events. On the night of May 27, they received a tip-off about members of an inter-state theft gang returning to Delhi with stolen mobile phones after committing thefts during IPL matches in Chandigarh and Dharamshala.
Acting swiftly on the information, a trap was set near the MCD toll at Singhu border, where a commercial Kia Carens vehicle was stopped, leading to the arrest of four suspects.
During the search, 15 mobile phones were recovered, including nine Apple iPhones, four Samsung phones, one Oppo phone, one OnePlus phone, and the Kia Carens vehicle. During questioning, the suspects revealed that the recovered phones were stolen during the recent IPL matches in Chandigarh and Dharamshala.
The arrested individuals include Arbaaz (26, resident of Sangam Vihar, Delhi), Naveen Kumar alias Nikkku (34, resident of Faridabad, Haryana), Hemraj alias Puchi (47, resident of Daryaganj, Delhi), and Abdul Mugni alias Shaiz (23, resident of Sadar Bazar, Delhi).
During interrogation, the suspects disclosed their affiliation with an organized inter-state gang that specializes in stealing expensive mobile phones during IPL cricket matches and other large public events. They admitted to regularly traveling across India to target audiences, particularly those with premium mobile phones, especially iPhones and high-end Samsung devices.
Criminal records revealed that Arbaaz and Hemraj alias Puchi had previously been involved in several criminal cases related to theft and possession of stolen property. The gang operates by identifying targets in crowded venues during IPL matches and exploiting the excitement and distraction to carry out their thefts.
After stealing the phones, they quickly leave the venue and return to Delhi to dispose of the stolen property and evade detection. They sell the stolen mobile phones to Kamal and Adil in Malka Ganj, New Delhi, at good prices.
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D.K./A.B.M