Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough in detecting mobile phone theft, the Commissionerate Police arrested a member of an interstate gang and recovered 150 stolen smartphones during a swift, and technology-driven probe in Bhubaneswar.
The arrest was made following a prompt investigation in to a complaint received on Sunday. The complainant reported that he was waiting for an AMA Bus near Master Canteen Bus Stop and speaking on his mobile phone when an unknown person suddenly pushed him from behind, snatched his mobile phone, and fled towards the Railway Station area.
The arrested accused has been identified as Md Sayem Ali (31), a resident of Kaliachak area in Malda district of West Bengal.
Police said a dedicated investigation team was formed after registration of the case. The team examined the complainant and other witnesses, collected technical evidence, and initiated efforts to trace the stolen mobile phone.
The complainant successfully tracked the live location of his Apple iPhone through the technical analysis feature using another Apple device. Based on this real-time technical input, the police team immediately rushed to the indicated location.
The technical trail led the police to a hotel in Ashok Nagar area of the city. During a carefully planned raid, the team traced the signal to a room and found one person packing numerous mobile phones with newspapers and black adhesive tape, apparently for transportation outside the state.
During sustained interrogation, the accused disclosed his involvement in mobile theft and snatching activities. Preliminary investigation indicates that he is associated with an interstate mobile theft syndicate which has been operating in Bhubaneswar, Kataka, and Puri, particularly targeting devotees and commuters during the recent Ratha Yatra period. The gang mainly belongs to West Bengal.
Prior to this huge recovery Nayapalli police had also nabbed seven members of a gang from West Bengal on July 13, who were active in AMA BUS and involved in mobile theft cases of passengers.
Police are verifying the accused’s residential details and investigating his alleged links to an organised inter-state gang involved in mobile phone theft. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
Appealing to the public to remain vigilant, a senior police officer said crowded places, particularly buses, festivals, and religious gatherings such as the Rath Yatra, are often targeted by pickpockets and mobile phone thieves.
He urged commuters and devotees to keep a close watch on their belongings and immediately report any suspicious activity or theft to the nearest police station.