In a significant crackdown, the Noida Police has successfully dismantled a major inter-state gang specializing in stealing high-end electronic devices, primarily iPhones, from crowded public events. The operation led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of stolen property valued at nearly ₹2 crore.
Arrests and Major Haul of Stolen Goods
The police team from Phase-1 police station made the arrests on Wednesday, acting on numerous complaints about mobile phone thefts during large public gatherings. The arrested individuals have been identified as Firoz (27), Fardeen (41), Salim (38), and Danish (35), all residents of Delhi.
During the subsequent raid, authorities recovered a substantial cache of stolen items. The seized goods include:
- 60 iPhones
- 10 multimedia phones
- 28 iPads
- 1 tablet
- 1 Apple TV device
- 265 mobile phone parts
- The scooter used to commit the crimes
Modus Operandi: Blending into the Crowd
According to Additional DCP (Noida) Shavya Goyal, the gang had been active for years across Delhi-NCR and several districts of Uttar Pradesh. Their method was meticulously planned to avoid detection.
The gang members would use fake names and dress like regular attendees to seamlessly blend into crowds at religious programmes and public meetings. Typically, three members would enter the crowded venue, while the fourth waited outside on a scooter for a quick getaway.
"In busy areas, the accused would steal phones and quickly pass them among themselves so that no device was found with any single person if suspicion arose. The final member would stash the switched-off phone in the scooter's storage compartment," explained Goyal.
Targeting iPhones and Disposal of Stolen Goods
The gang specifically targeted iPhones and other premium gadgets due to their high resale value and demand in the market. After the theft, the stolen phones were kept switched off for several days to avoid tracking.
Eventually, the devices were either sold in stolen-goods markets in Delhi or dismantled for their valuable parts, which were then sold separately. This inter-state theft ring's bust highlights a persistent issue of organized crime targeting unsuspecting citizens in crowded places.
The successful operation by the Noida Police serves as a stern warning to such criminal networks and offers relief to victims who lost their expensive electronic devices. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the gang's network and possibly recover more stolen items.
