New Delhi witnessed two separate phone snatching incidents near India Gate over the weekend, with victims including a Canadian tourist and an HR executive en route to AIIMS. The incidents have raised fresh concerns about security in the high-security zone of Lutyens' Delhi.
First Incident: Canadian Tourist Targeted
The first incident occurred on May 22, when Sukhvinder Singh, a 27-year-old employee of a police department in Canada, was taking a selfie near Kartavya Path. Around 2:45 am, a PCR call was registered. Singh reported that two men on a motorcycle approached him near the Army office gate on Sher Shah Suri Road. Both assailants wore masks and appeared aged between 30 and 35. The pillion rider, clad in a pink shirt, snatched Singh's iPhone 16 from his hand and fled towards Mathura Road with his accomplice.
Second Incident: Woman Heading to AIIMS
In the second incident, a 35-year-old woman had her iPhone stolen on Sunday morning while traveling with her mother-in-law, who was scheduled for surgery at AIIMS. Around 8 am, as their autorickshaw reached Zakir Hussain Road near India Gate, two men on a bike pulled up and snatched her phone. The woman, who works for a private firm, described the shock and fear that followed. The autorickshaw driver attempted to chase the snatchers but lost them in traffic. The victim filed a complaint at the Kartavya Path police station.
Police Response and Arrests
Police have registered FIRs in both cases. The woman claimed that two suspects were arrested and she was asked to identify them. A day later, she was informed that her phone had been traced and the suspects apprehended. However, the back-to-back snatchings in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi have sparked concerns, as snatchers typically avoid high-security zones due to higher risk of capture. In August last year, Tamil Nadu Congress MP R Sudha was targeted in a chain-snatching incident near the Embassy of Poland.
Citywide Snatching Statistics
Data reveals that nearly 20 snatching cases are reported daily across Delhi. In 2024, the city recorded 6,493 snatching incidents, while in 2025, at least 5,406 cases have been reported so far. The incidents highlight ongoing challenges in urban security despite police efforts.
