In a massive crackdown on organised crime, the Noida Police have achieved one of the largest single recoveries of stolen mobile phones in recent years. A special team from the Phase-2 police station successfully busted a sophisticated theft ring, seizing a staggering 821 stolen handsets in one operation and arresting six members of the gang. Two juveniles were also apprehended.
The Sting Operation and Major Seizure
The breakthrough came on Tuesday during a routine police check near the Kakrala outpost. Officers noticed a group of individuals moving from Sorkha village towards Sector 81 who seemed nervous at the sight of the patrol and tried to retreat. The police team gave chase, detained the group, and upon search, uncovered the massive cache of stolen phones from multiple brands. The recovered devices are estimated to be worth between ₹6 crore and ₹8 crore. Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh hailed the operation as a major breakthrough and announced a cash reward of ₹25,000 for the team.
Modus Operandi of the Organised Gang
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Awasthi, police had been receiving a steady stream of complaints about mobile thefts from weekly markets, vegetable mandis, and other crowded spaces over the past few months. The frequency and pattern pointed to a highly organised group. Additional DCP Santosh Kumar explained the gang's well-rehearsed method: they targeted crowded markets during peak hours. In winter, they specifically focused on phones kept in shirt or jacket pockets. One member would distract the victim while another swiftly removed the phone and passed it on. Within a minute, the device would change several hands, making immediate recovery nearly impossible, even for plainclothes officers deployed in markets.
The arrested accused were identified as alleged gang leader Govinda (32) from Bhagalpur, Bihar; Rohit Saini (20) from Mawana, Meerut; and Pradeep Kumar (32), Shekhar Mahato (25), Bhartiya Mahato (25), and Shyam Kumar Rai (23), all from Sahibganj district in Jharkhand.
Inter-State Network and Wider Implications
Investigations revealed that the gang would stockpile between 500 to 1,000 stolen phones before transporting them via bus or train to Jharkhand and Bihar, where they were sold at cheap rates. Some devices were allegedly smuggled further towards the Nepal border, particularly via Maharajganj, where stolen phones fetched higher prices. The accused had rented rooms in Noida for reconnaissance before executing thefts. Police are now investigating their wider criminal links.
Authorities also raised serious concerns about the misuse of personal data stored on the stolen devices. They warned that such information could be exploited for cybercrime or other serious offences. This operation is considered likely the biggest single mobile phone recovery at the district level in recent years, dealing a significant blow to organised theft networks operating across state borders.
