Hyderabad: Police in Jeedimetla have caught a gang known for snatching phones and stealing from unsuspecting people. They arrested five suspects and recovered stolen items, including two motorcycles and nine mobile phones, worth Rs 3.5 lakh.
The investigation was successful thanks to careful analysis of CCTV footage, technical tracking, and checking databases of suspects.
The arrested individuals are R Vijaynath Varun (19) from Kukatpally, R Shiva (21), R Naresh Nayak (23), Kumar, and Venkat, all from Jagadgirigutta. Meanwhile, Abdul Shahed, Syed Kaleel Ahmed, Mohd Akhil Ahmed, and Syed Irfan are still at large.
On July 27, a woman named Kum D Akhila from Quthubullapur reported an incident. She was on her way to her hostel, talking on her phone near Shapur Nagar Bus Stop, when two men on a black bike attacked her. They pushed her, took her phone, and injured her right ear. She noted that the passenger on the bike wore a red shirt.
K Suresh Kumar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police for Balanagar Zone, said the gang members were addicted to alcohol and marijuana. The accused, Varun, Shiva, Naresh, Kumar, and Venkat, often gathered in open areas like those near Metro Station, Vignanpuri Colony, Sangeeth Nagar, Kukatpally, and Jagadgirigutta bus stop to drink and smoke. Under the influence, they roamed around places like Kukatpally, Jeedimetla, Madhapur, JNTU, Prasanth Nagar, and Moosapet, looking to steal from people, especially those walking alone or talking on phones.
They targeted individuals who seemed vulnerable, often women, by snatching phones and committing other thefts.
The police used CCTV footage to track escape routes and identified the suspects by comparing their methods with those of known criminals. This led to the arrest and recovery of the stolen property.
The group, along with others, was previously involved in similar crimes in Cyberabad and Hyderabad. Shiva had been arrested for a rape case, and Naresh had a record of 11 cases.
