Mumbai: Arrest made in mobile phone, bike, and auto theft case for money transfers

The arrested youth caught on camera.

The MHB police arrested a 30-year-old youth who allegedly used to steal mobile phones, bikes, and auto-rickshaws for money transfers. The arrested accused has been identified as Nabi Alam Usman Khan (30).

According to police sources, Khan is a habitual offender. After committing the theft, he used to go to a money transfer shop and ask the shopkeeper to send money to his home as per his requirement. When the money was transferred, he would reveal to the shopkeeper that he had forgotten to bring the money and would abscond by pawning the stolen items to the shopkeeper on the pretext of bringing cash.

Last month, Khan stole an auto from Dahisar's West. Under the guidance of DCP Ajaykumar Bansal and Senior Inspector Sudhir Kudalkar, API Suryakant Pawar and his team at MHB police station began the investigation. They checked CCTV footage from Dahisar to Chembur and finally traced the auto, which was parked outside a money transfer shop in Chembur.

According to police, with the shop owner, Khan transferred Rs 10,000 to one of his relative's accounts. He told the shop owner that he had forgotten the money and went out, claiming he would bring it from home. He then mortgaged the auto to the shop owner but did not return.

"We took the account details and mobile number of the accused from the shop owner and retrieved the CDR of his mobile phone. Khan was a frequent traveler, coming to Mumbai from Surat many times a month, and most of his locations showed the Mira Road area. With the help of his mobile location, we caught Khan from Mira Road yesterday," said an officer.

"We have seized a Honda Shine bike, three mobile phones, and the stolen auto. The bike recovered was stolen from Dahisar under the jurisdiction of MHB police a couple of months ago. During the interrogation, it has been revealed that Khan hails from the Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. He is married and has two children. Due to unemployment, his family members drove him out of the house, and he was currently living in Surat, Gujarat."

Khan has committed similar crimes under the jurisdiction of Kasturba Marg, Goregaon, Chembur, Borivali, and Mira Road police stations. "We have recovered three mobile phones, a Honda Shine bike, and an auto from his possession," added the officer.

Khan has been arrested under various sections of the IPC. He has been produced before the court and remanded in police custody, said another officer.

In another similar case, the Kandivali police have arrested two miscreants who allegedly transferred Rs 25,000 from a money transfer shop.

According to police sources, one of the accused took the shopkeeper to a nearby deserted building to pay the money and tried to flee after throwing chili spray on his face. The shopkeeper chased the accused and caught him with the help of locals who also caught his associate waiting for him in an auto. The accused have been identified as Sandeep Dandle and Vishal Shirsagar, residents of Kurar Malad East.

According to the police sources, the complaint was filed by Suraj Vishwakarma (33), who owns a mobile shop named "RD Mobile Telecom" located in Iraniwadi, Kandivali. He also runs money transfers from the same shop.

"Accused Shirsagar came to his shop and asked him to transfer 25 thousand to his friend Dandle's account, as he was unable to transfer the amount from his mobile phone. Vishwakarma transferred 25 thousand from his money transfer account to Dandle's and asked Shirsagar to pay the cash. Shirsagar told Vishwakarma that his friend is bringing the cash. When it was getting late, Vishwakarma asked Shirsagar again about the amount. Shirsagar took Vishwakarma to a nearby building on the pretext of giving him cash and suddenly removed a chili spray from his pocket and sprayed it on Vishwakarma's face, attempting to escape. Vishwakarma, in deep pain, shouted for help. Hearing his cries, nearby people rushed to help. They chased and caught Shirsagar and also caught Dandle, who was waiting for Shirsagar in an auto," said an officer.

"We arrested the duo yesterday under sections 420 and 34 of the IPC. They were produced before the court today, and the court remanded them in police custody," added the officer.