Police bust organised mobile-snatching gang
Delhi Police has busted an organised mobile-snatching gang operating in the ITO-IP Estate area and arrested two accused, including a habitual offender involved in 23 criminal cases.
Asif (26), a resident of Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, and Tarik alias Danish (22) were arrested on July 1 and July 2, respectively, officials said.
The action followed four mobile-snatching incidents reported within an hour on June 27 in the ITO-IP Estate area, prompting police to invoke Section 112 of the BNS, which deals with organised crime. The case was registered at the IP Estate police station after a Gwalior resident alleged that two men on a black motorcycle snatched his mobile phone near the IP flyover while he was heading towards Kashmiri Gate on a bike.
During investigation, police found that the same module was behind multiple similar incidents in the area within a short duration.
Police analysed more than 750 CCTV camera footage, which led them to Asif, who was arrested from Mahdood village in Bijnor on July 1.
During interrogation, Asif disclosed the involvement of his associate Shahrukh, who remains absconding.
Based on Asif’s disclosure, police recovered a stolen motorcycle used in the crime from Zakir Nagar in southeast Delhi. The two-wheeler was found to be linked to a theft case registered at the Wazirabad police station.
Based on Asif’s disclosure, police later arrested Tarik alias Danish (22) from Shastri Park on July 2. Investigators said Tarik played a key role in arranging stolen motorcycles, facilitating the disposal of snatched mobile phones, and helping gang members evade police.
Police said the gang operated in a structured manner, with each member assigned specific roles and a fixed share in the proceeds of crime. Shahrukh allegedly drove the bike while Asif snatched phones from unsuspecting commuters on busy roads and flyovers.
