Police Bust Mobile Snatching Gang

Hyderabad: A coordinated investigation by the Kanchanbagh police led to the identification of an organized interstate mobile phone snatching and pickpocketing gang involved in various crimes in Hyderabad and surrounding areas.

The investigation began after Syed Nazeer Ahmed lodged a complaint on Friday stating that bike criminals had stolen his high-end mobile phone near DMRL X Road. Special teams were immediately formed. Rajendranagar DCP S. Sreenivas said that by analyzing CCTV footage, suspicious movements and technical intelligence, police uncovered an organization operating in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and other parts of Telangana.

The arrested accused are Ambata Naresh alias Kavati Naresh, Banala Arun Kumar alias Nani, Mekala Chiranjeevi alias Chiru, Thota Suri alias Suresh alias Surya, Thota Chandu and buyer Sandeep Jaiswal. Others, including Thota Vasanth, Shashi and Prem, are still at large. The gang is suspected of more than 15 crimes across the state.

modus operandi

The gang targeted crowded public places like bus stands, markets, tiffin centers and RTC stations. Members operated in motorcycle-riding groups, dividing roles into lookouts, surveillance, snatchers, and riders. Victims were distracted by tactics such as dropping banknotes or covering movements with newspapers. Stolen mobile phones were sold to shops for ₹1,500–₹2,000, cut into spare parts, or distributed at low prices after deleting identification information.

Police seized 132 batteries, 172 mobile circuits without motherboards and 73 camera parts of various brands.