In a significant crackdown, the Delhi Police has apprehended two alleged members of a notorious 'Takkar-Maar' gang involved in a street theft case. The accused were arrested for stealing a sum of Rs 40,000 from a 55-year-old man in the Azad Market area.
Modus Operandi of the Collision Theft
The incident occurred on Christmas Day when the complainant, Shalinder Kohli, a Faridabad-based used car dealer, was shopping in Azad Market. According to police officials, at around 4:30 PM near Aggarwal Sweets on Bahadurgarh Road, two individuals approached him. One deliberately collided with Kohli, after which both created an unnecessary altercation as a distraction.
Amid the confusion, the duo fled the scene. It was only after they left that Kohli realized Rs 40,000 in cash was missing from his pocket. A formal case was subsequently registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Bara Hindu Rao police station.
Investigation and Arrest Details
Deputy Commissioner of Police Raja Banthia stated that a thorough investigation was launched. Police teams scanned and analyzed footage from more than 50 CCTV cameras installed in and around the incident site. The video evidence clearly showed two suspects escaping after the pickpocketing act.
Acting on this evidence, the police team from Bara Hindu Rao station apprehended the first accused, Honey alias Killa (32), near his residence on the night of December 27. His associate, Badal alias Aakash (25), was arrested shortly thereafter. Both men are residents of Sadar Bazar. A partial recovery of Rs 9,000 of the stolen money was made from their homes.
Criminal History and Gang Operations
During interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to their involvement in the crime. They revealed themselves to be school dropouts who have been actively engaged in pickpocketing, snatching, and robbery. Their standard method involves targeting seemingly gullible people in crowded or isolated locations by initiating a push or collision.
They then engage the victim in a heated argument, using the confrontation as cover to steal valuables before making a quick escape. The police disclosed that the duo has a long history of criminal activities. Killa has 12 previous cases, including robbery, snatching, theft, and violations under the Arms Act. He was recently released from jail in October 2024. Aakash has 9 prior cases and was himself released from prison just two weeks before this arrest.
The Delhi Police has stated that further investigation is underway to uncover more details about their network and possible involvement in other similar crimes across the city.
