Chennai: The city police busted a mobile phone stealing racket with the arrest of a quartet and recovery of 105 mobile phones valued at Rs 5 lakh from the gang while they were holed up in a private boarding lodge near Parry’s, waiting for their buyers from neighbouring Kerala to transact the property, on Friday.
The arrested were identified as Kandhan, (19), of Mannady, Nagoor Meeran, (24), of Korukkupet, Siddique, (47), and Ganesan, (37), both from Tondiarpet.
A special team from the North Beach Police who got wind of the gang’s operation launched a raid at the lodge located on Angappanaicken Street. The raid led to the seizure of the mobile phones, and one of the gang members. The rest were picked up based on the inputs from the one detained.
Preliminary investigations revealed the hand of the mobile-phone retailers from neighbouring Kerala who procures the stolen mobiles from the gang.
“The Tondiarpet-duo would strike a deal with the stolen mobile phones buying dealers in Kerala for a cut, while the other two involved would steal mobiles using the crowded junctions across the City. They would begin stocking up the stolen mobile phones in a lodge. The talks would be initiated once the desired number of mobiles was achieved in stock.
Following payment in cash, the mobiles would be handed over and would be moved for retailing in Kerala. The thriving market for used high-end mobile phones is the major factor for this gang’s operation in the city”, said a senior police official who is privy to the investigation.
“We need to identify the buyers and their clients. We have intercepted the gang before the commencement of the sale. We believe that most such lots must have already made it to Kerala and retailed there. The gang could have also sold the mobiles in the local market as well, which may come up in the next round of investigation”, the official added.
