The city police raided outlets in Sathya Bazaar and Burma Bazaar and seized 2,500 mobile phones, sending a strong message to shopkeepers who sell stolen mobile phones and tamper with the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. The police also busted a gang that tampered with the IMEI number for ₹200.
Karthik’s brand new iPhone was snatched by two unidentified persons in Pondy Bazaar police station limits. The police however, managed to trace the whereabouts of the person who had the phone. The suspect, Abdul Rahman, 25, was nabbed in Perambur. He was running a shop in Burma Bazaar, buying stolen iPhones and selling the spares. The police seized 60 iPhones from his shop.
Similarly, over 50 police personnel from the T. Nagar police district — led by three assistant commissioners of police — raided outlets and seized 2,000 smartphones that had no relevant bills or papers.
Duo apprehended
Based on a complaint lodged by Krishnamurthy with the Taramani police after his mobile phone was snatched by two motorists on November 6, a team apprehended a duo, who confessed to having sold stolen mobile phones to outlets in Burma Bazaar. It was revealed that one Abdul Wahab was running a mobile phone servicing shop in Angappa Naicken street and that he changed the IMEI number for ₹200. The police seized 96 mobile phones and two laptops from his shop.
The police also conducted raids on outlets in Burma Bazaar and recovered 325 mobile phones and twenty laptops.
