he Koh-e-Fiza police have arrested two fraudsters, Arif alias Nadeem (25) and Kaif Khan (19), who were involved in a series of thefts by duping local shopkeepers through fake orders. The duo allegedly targeted several shops in the area, posing as customers to place orders for expensive electronic items and then fleeing with the goods without making any payment.
The modus operandi of the accused was to call local stores and place orders for high-value electronic items like air conditioners (ACs), fridges, and televisions. After convincing shopkeepers to deliver the goods to various fake addresses, they would disappear with the items, leaving the shopkeepers at a loss.
The scam came to light on May 27, 2025, when Seema Thackeray, a local shop owner, filed a complaint stating that the accused had ordered three fridges, one cooler, and one LED TV from her shop. After the delivery was made, they vanished with the goods. In a similar case, another shopkeeper, Sanjay Dubey, reported that a 1.5-ton VOLTAS AC was taken without payment from his store at Gulmohar Heights.
Following the complaints, the Koh-e-Fiza police registered FIRs and launched an investigation, analyzing mobile call records and activating informants to track down the culprits. The investigation led to the arrest of Arif and Kaif, who were found in possession of stolen items.
During their arrest, the police recovered three VOLTAS ACs, one Whirlpool fridge, two GEM fridges, one CROMA TV, one Indusaire cooler, and two motorcycles used in the crimes. The total value of the seized goods is estimated to be around Rs 3 lakh.
Arif, a resident of Mangalwara Road, is a class 10 dropout, while Kaif, from Arif Nagar, has studied up to class 8. Both accused are unemployed.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Anil Bajpai confirmed the arrests and stated that further investigations are underway to uncover any additional victims and connections to larger criminal networks.