These offenders get into the business by stealing smart phones for easy money.
Pune: With the arrest of 19 youths last month for stealing and snatching mobile phones in the city, officials of city police have found that many arrested in these cases are first time offenders and are committing the crime for easy money and love of fancy smart phones.
The city police have recovered over 99 stolen mobile phones of different companies from these youths. Mohammad Arif (28) who stays in Kondhwa and was working in a bakery was arrested by Crime branch unit I for robbing people of their mobile phones. The police recovered 11 mobile phones from Arif which he had sold to different persons. The police said that Arif was earning a salary of Rs 6,000 to 7,000 which he found insufficient and was finding ways to earn money. Unfortunately, he chose to commit such crimes.
Similarly, officers of Shivajinagar police station arrested three persons including a minor for being involved in snatching cell phones across city. Police Sub-Inspector Sagar Kale of Shivajingar police station said that the arrested accused Prakash Jamadar (19) and Dishpya Gaikwad (21) from Pimpri robbed 21 people of their mobile phones. “The duo have no criminal background and have studied till 12th standard. They robbed people for fun,” added Kale.
The police found that the accused have sold stolen mobile phones from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000. In another case, Vicky Thokal (20) from Pimpri was arrested by the government railway police for stealing mobile phones. Vicky earlier had no criminal background and came in contact with other two thieves Lakhan Kanojiya (19) and Rishikesh Ranvar (19).
The trio then started stealing phones of people at Pune station. The police recently recovered 10 stolen mobile phones from the accused.
Senior police officials of the city police said that every day, more than 50 mobile phones go missing in the city.
“Many youths involved the crime think stealing mobile phones is an easier way to earn income and indulge in it. Such phones are sold for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 which buyers find it attractive and fall for it,” added a senior police official.
Many women selling smart phones for Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 can be spotted in areas like Wakad, Bhosari and Hadapsar.
“Similarly, such phones area available at many places in the city but people must refrain from buying such phones. IMEI number of phones can be changed by various software,” added the senior police official.
Police officials said that in last month, they have arrested major criminals involved in stealing phones from Shivajinagar, Pune station and Swargate bus stand and hence, there may be a reduction in such cases.
