Pune: Man Arrested for Snatching Mobile Phones Under Pretext of Asking for Directions; Six Phones and Bike Seized
Katraj, 6th May 2025: The Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have arrested an 18-year-old man involved in a string of mobile phone snatching incidents carried out under the pretext of asking pedestrians for directions. The accused, identified as Rohit Suresh Kamble, a resident of Jadhavnagar, Gujarwadi Phata in Katraj, was found in possession of six stolen mobile phones and a motorcycle, collectively valued at ₹1.8 lakh.
According to police reports, Kamble and his accomplice would ride a two-wheeler and approach unsuspecting pedestrians, pretending to seek directions. While the victim was distracted, they would snatch the mobile phone and flee. One such incident occurred on May 1 around 8 PM, when a young man speaking on his phone was targeted and robbed.
Following a complaint lodged at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, an investigation was launched. The crime branch team received intelligence pointing to Kamble and his associate as suspects in similar incidents reported in the Gujarwadi area. Acting on the tip-off, police set up a trap and successfully apprehended Kamble. His accomplice remains at large.
The seized items include six smartphones and a motorcycle allegedly used in the thefts. The total value of the recovered property is estimated at ₹1.8 lakh.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Pravin Kumar Patil, Deputy Commissioner Smartna Patil, and Assistant Commissioner Rahul Aware. The action team comprised Senior Police Inspector Sawalaram Salgaonkar, Crime Branch Inspector Rahulkumar Khilare, Sub-Inspector Nilesh Mokashi, and officers Mitesh Chormole, Abhinay Chaudhary, Sagar Borge, Kiran Sable, Sachin Sarpale, Mahesh Baravkar, Mangesh Pawar, Sachin Gade, Nilesh Khairmode, Tukaram Sutar, and Sandeep Aghale.
