Mobile Thieves Strike During Ganpati Procession: 300 Phones Stolen in 28 Hours in Pune

Pune, 20th September 2024: Thieves stole as many as 300 mobile phones within 28 hours during the Ganpati immersion procession. Complaints have been filed at Faraskhana, Vishrambaug, Khadak, and Samarth police stations regarding these thefts.

Laxmi Road, Kumthekar Road, and Tilak Road were particularly crowded during the immersion procession. The event continued for 28 hours, during which mobile thieves targeted areas such as Lakshmi Road and Alka Chowk.

Notably, 91 cases of mobile phone theft were registered at Vishrambaug police station alone on the day of the immersion. It was reported that 25 mobile phones were stolen during the entire ten days of the festival.

Meanwhile, Faraskhana police have arrested two members of the mobile theft gang from Madhya Pradesh and Nashik, seizing 21 mobile phones valued at ₹2.79 lakh. Faraaskhana police sub-inspector Arvind Shinde, along with constables Gajanan Sonawane and Nitin Jadhav, apprehended Faizal Aziz Khan (22), a resident of Nashik, and Kalu Raju Parkhi, a resident of Madhya Pradesh.

The search for their accomplices is ongoing. Senior Police Inspector Prashant Bhasme stated that the gang was active in Pune during Ganeshotsav, stealing mobile phones from devotees before discarding the SIM cards and switching off the devices. Their timely arrest prevented a potential mass theft during the procession.

Reports indicate that mobile thieves have primarily targeted iPhones, leading to a higher number of complaints regarding their theft. The iPhone’s high demand in the second-hand market makes it a popular choice for thieves, who have also adopted technology to evade tracking.
Additionally, Faraskhana police arrested two women from Nashik district who stole gold ornaments during the Ganpati immersion procession. During their investigation, 140 grams of gold jewelry valued at ₹9.80 lakh was seized from Navi Mumbai.

The accused have been identified as Gita Venkatesh Khatti (20) and Pooja Pravin Gazu (24), both residents of Pathardi, Nashik. The operation was carried out by Assistant Police Inspector Vaibhav Sonwane, Sub-Inspector Arvind Shinde, and constables Gajanan Sonawane and Rekha Raut of Faraskhana Police Station.