Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough, the Capital Police have arrested five members of an interstate gang involved in the snatching and theft of high-end smartphones.
All the arrested suspects hail from Jharkhand.
The operation was launched following a snatching complaint filed on September 11. Police successfully recovered 60 stolen mobile phones and uncovered an elaborate scheme involving financial fraud using stolen SIM cards.
According to Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena, the investigation commenced after a report was lodged at the Capital Police Station. Employing a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence, the police tracked a stolen smartphone that was found switched off near the Master Canteen area.
“During the search operation, our team spotted five men acting suspiciously while carrying bags. Upon inspection, we discovered a large number of stolen smartphones. Further investigation revealed that the accused possessed flight tickets to Hyderabad and Chennai, indicating their involvement in an interstate crime network operating across multiple cities,” DCP Meena told reporters.
DCP Meena further explained that the gang carried out fraudulent transactions on UPI platforms by using stolen SIM cards inserted into their own phones.
“After snatching and stealing smartphones, they inserted the stolen SIM cards into their devices to access UPI platforms and attempted to transfer funds to their own accounts,” he added.
The DCP assured that the accused would face stringent legal action under applicable laws.
“This successful operation is expected to significantly curb mobile snatching and theft incidents in the city,” said DCP Meena. He also commended the police team for their dedication and reiterated the department’s commitment to combat such criminal activities.
