Mobile phone thieves in the city are striking at will these days. With luck on their side, they have even started becoming ‘innovative.’
A technique they employ is to slap or hit a person speaking on the mobile phone, expecting him to loosen his grip on the device out of shock.
Mohan, an employee of Hyundai, was walking on Periyar Road last week, talking over phone. Two persons following him on a motorbike hit him on the head and tried to snatch the phone. However, an alert Mohan kept his grip on the phone and called out for help. People in the area rushed to his rescue and the duo was caught and handed over to the Vadapalani police.
The investigation team found that the duo — Santhosh (20) and Venkatesh(19) — often used to employ this technique. They operated in the Panagal Park and Aminjikarai areas, targeting shoppers. They would sell the stolen phones for a price much lower than the original cost and buy ganja, police said.
In Thoraipakkam, a youngster pretending to be a client entered a busy branch of a private bank on Old Mahabalipuram Road and went to the manager’s table. He took a seat and started reading a book pretending to be waiting. When the manager moved away from his seat, the suspect took his mobile phone from the table and hid it inside his book. However, when he employed the same trick at another bank, he was caught, thanks to CCTV footage.
At opportune moment
Then there are mobile phone thieves who wait for people to drop their guard. A couple was coming from Washermenpet on a bike towards Marina Beach on Flag Staff Road recently. Rubiya, who was riding pillion, dropped her mobile phone, and when she bent to pick it up, one of the two persons who came on a bike grabbed the phone and sped away.
Another motorcycle-borne duo targeted Shankar (48) of Anna Nagar East, who was walking on New Avadi Road. He lodged a complaint with the T.P. Chatram police. In another case, a mobile phone was snatched from a lone walker on Poonamallee Road and the incident was reported at the Vepery station.
