In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police has dismantled an organized criminal network involved in snatching mobile phones in the national capital and then smuggling them to Nepal, while also illegally siphoning money through UPI transactions. The racket was uncovered during the probe of a December snatching case in northwest Delhi's Ashok Vihar area.
How the Case Unfolded: From a Snatching to a Racket
The investigation began on December 1, when a 36-year-old watchman named Ganesh Dubey fell victim to a snatching incident. While walking outside his factory in Ashok Vihar, two men on a motorcycle accosted him and snatched his mobile phone. Acting on the complaint, the police team from the Northwest district, led by DCP Bhisham Singh, began scanning CCTV footage from the vicinity.
The footage proved crucial. It helped the police identify and subsequently arrest a key accused, Kishan alias Kishor (30). Kishan is a known history-sheeter with a staggering 21 previous criminal cases registered against him. Upon his arrest, the police recovered a country-made pistol, two live cartridges, and the very phone snatched from Ganesh Dubey.
The Raids and Recovery of 40 Stolen Phones
The police did not stop there. A search operation at Kishan's residence led to a major haul: 40 mobile phones were recovered, all suspected to have been stolen or snatched from victims across the city. The investigation deepened with the arrest of Kishan's associate, Mohit alias Badshah, another history-sheeter from Ashok Vihar, from whom another stolen phone was seized.
During interrogation, the duo revealed that they supplied the stolen phones to two other individuals named Rohit and Amit. Following this lead, the police conducted a raid and arrested Rohit (20). His role in the syndicate was that of a receiver and forwarder. Rohit would collect bulk consignments of stolen phones and then pass them on to another handler responsible for transporting the devices across the border to Nepal.
Modus Operandi: Targeting Vulnerable Users and Weak Security
The police detailed the gang's sophisticated yet ruthless method of operation. The snatchers primarily targeted pedestrians, factory workers, and individuals using phones outdoors, especially during late hours. They used stolen vehicles fitted with fake or concealed number plates to carry out the crimes and evade identification.
Once a phone was snatched, the criminals moved swiftly to monetize the theft. They exploited weak screen locks—such as simple patterns, dates of birth, or predictable PINs—to break into the devices. After gaining access, they would:
- Raid UPI apps and e-wallets to transfer out money.
- Access SMS inboxes for OTPs and sensitive information.
- Check saved passwords and recovery emails for further account breaches.
- Compromise social media accounts.
The SIM card was immediately removed from the stolen phone to prevent tracking by the police or the victim and to stop any OTP alerts from reaching the device. This allowed them a window to operate before the victim could block their accounts.
This case highlights a dangerous nexus between street crime and digital fraud. The Delhi Police's successful crackdown has not only led to multiple arrests but also exposed a transnational channel used to dispose of stolen electronic goods, while underscoring the critical importance of using strong, unique passwords and PINs on personal devices.
