In a significant crackdown on organised crime, the Noida Police have dismantled a major mobile phone theft syndicate, recovering a staggering 821 stolen handsets in a single operation. This recovery, valued between an estimated Rs 6 crore and Rs 8 crore, is believed to be one of the largest at the district level in recent years.
The Sting Operation and Arrests
The breakthrough came on Tuesday during a routine police check near the Kakrala outpost. Officers noticed a group of individuals moving from Sorkha village towards Sector 81 who seemed nervous and tried to retreat upon spotting the patrol. A swift chase and detention led to the discovery of a massive cache of stolen phones. A special team from the Phase-2 police station had been tracking the gang for months following a consistent pattern of complaints about thefts from weekly markets, vegetable mandis, and other crowded places.
Police arrested six adult members of the gang. The alleged leader was identified as Govinda (32), a resident of Bhagalpur, Bihar. The other arrested accused are Rohit Saini (20) from Mawana, Meerut; and Pradeep Kumar (32), Shekhar Mahato (25), Bhartiya Mahato (25), and Shyam Kumar Rai (23), all from Sahibganj district in Jharkhand. Additionally, two juveniles were apprehended in connection with the case.
Modus Operandi: Speed and Coordination
According to Additional DCP Santosh Kumar, the gang operated with a well-rehearsed method. They specifically targeted crowded markets during peak shopping hours. "In winter, they focused on phones kept in shirt or jacket pockets. One member would distract the victim while another removed the phone and passed it on. Within a minute, the device would change several hands, making recovery during spot checks almost impossible," he explained.
This high level of coordination and speed made it difficult even for plainclothes officers deployed in markets to catch them in the act. The gang would stockpile between 500 to 1,000 phones before transporting the haul by bus or train to Jharkhand and Bihar, where the devices were sold at cheap rates. Some phones were allegedly smuggled further towards the Nepal border, particularly via Maharajganj, where stolen phones fetched higher prices.
Major Breakthrough and Wider Concerns
Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for the police team, hailing the operation as a major success against organised theft. DCP (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Awasthi stated that the frequency and pattern of complaints had clearly pointed to the involvement of a sophisticated group.
Beyond the financial loss, officials raised serious concerns about the misuse of personal data from the stolen devices. They warned that information extracted from these phones could be exploited for cybercrime or other serious offences. The investigation has revealed that the accused had rented rooms in Noida for reconnaissance before executing thefts. Police are now probing their wider criminal links and networks.
