Cops warn citizens against using mobiles in isolated locations

Mysuru: Recent arrest of three mobile thieves in the city has prompted police to caution public to be watchful while using cellular phones in isolated spots, and on the outskirts of Mysuru. Police nabbed the three-member gang that was operating on the Outer Ring Road, close to the Hebbal Industrial Area.
“This gang has never been unsuccessful in its attempts to steal phones. The trio observes people, performs a quick recce. They then devise a quick plan, and execute the same,” cops said.

The trio – Danush, Sachin and N Nagesh – all residents of Mysuru are jobless. In the past two months, they have stolen nearly 10 phones, mostly from non-Kannadigas. It was happenstance that cops happened to encounter one of the gang members at a mobile repair shop that led to their downfall.

Jayalakshmipuram police station inspector BG Prakash said that one of the gang members, Danush had a past record, with a case pending against him in Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya district. “Sachin and Nagesh, however, are first-time offenders. They worked in factories before resorting to crime. Most mobile thieves operate in pockets on the stretch of Outer Ring Road near Vijayanagar in west Mysuru,” Prakash said.

On the gang’s modus operandi after the theft of the phones, Prakash said, “They sold expensive phones at throwaway prices to gullible buyers. For instance, phones worth Rs 40,000 for just Rs 8,000. Some of the phones they kept to play games till they could find customers. It was easy money for them.”

Meanwhile, the trio told the cops that their victims were mostly employees of factories in Hebbal Industrial Area. Police are currently looking into cases of mobile snatching reported in the past two months, to help track down owners of the phones, and return them.

“Mobile users must be cautious, and avoid using them in public spaces to prevent such crimes,” said Prakash.

More recently, two college students helped nab a mobile snatcher near the City Bus Stand. “Police had recovered three mobile phones from the thief,” cops said.