Two held, minor detained for snatching phones in Pune

PUNE: Three youths riding a high-end sports bike went on a phone-snatching spree in Handewadi, Undri and Khadi Machine chowk in Kondhwa since January.
The trio switched off the phones soon after it was robbed to prevent police from tracing their location.
They collected 12 phones and were planning to sell it for fast money but CCTV cameras at various places helped the Kondhwa police establish their identity and arrest them from their place of residence.
A team under senior inspector Santosh Sonawane arrested first time offenders Umar Shaikh (19) and Kadir Shaikh (19), both from Urali Devachi, and detained their minor accomplice.
Assistant inspector Anil Survase said the trio, all school dropouts riding triples on the bike, snatched smartphones of pedestrians and concealed them at their residences.
Suvase said, "We analysed 40 CCTV cameras and tracked the routes used by them before and after crime. We established their identity, traced their address and took the duo into custody and detained a 17-year-old minor boy after investigations established their involvement in the crime."
"We have recovered 12 phones and the bike, collectively valued at Rs 1.23 lakh, from the residence of Umar and Kadir. The phones will be returned to their respective owners," he added.