Rourkela: A man, who allegedly stole many mobile phones from unsuspecting people posing as a police officer, was arrested by the police in Odisha’s Rourkela on Wednesday.
A total of 33 stolen mobile phones were recovered from the accused, who was arrested by Brahmani Tarang police. The accused was identified as Jagannath Bhagat of Bonai area of Sundargarh district.
Bhagat visited mobile phone showrooms posing as a police officer and stole phones after diverting the attention the shopkeepers, police said. He sold some of the stolen mobile phones for money.
Police have seized 33 mobile phones from the accused who used to pose as a police official to steal mobile phones from people, Panposh SDPO, Shanta Nutan Samad said.
People who were targeted by the accused were reluctant to lodge complaints with the police as they believed that he was a police officer and no step would be taken against him.
Police said the accused has two other criminal cases registered against him at the GRP. The police are verifying his other criminal antecedents.
