Cyber cell arrests 4 cellphone snatchers

Ahmedabad:The city crime branch's cyber cell arrested four persons, Vinod Thakor, 21 of Raipur, Jignesh Bhil 21, Rohit Thakore 21 and Karan Thakore of Khadia, on Friday, for snatching cellphones from pedestrians and women riding pillion or driving two wheelers.

Cyber cell officials said the gang has been active for one and half month, and used a bike and a scooter in coordination to commit the crimes.

"We have recovered seven cellphones and two stolen vehicles, including a bike and a scooter, from the accused," said a cyber-cell official.

"Two of them would roam on a bike and the other two on a scooter. Once they identified a target, who could be a woman riding pillion, or a pedestrian talking on his cellphone, both vehicles moved closer to the target," said ACP Rajdeepsinh Zala.

The accused riding the bike were tasked with snatching the cellphones, while the duo on the scooter would position their vehicle to make pursuit of the bike difficult, said Zala.

"Sometimes, those on the scooter would would come to aid of their partners on the bike, if they happened to get caught by people," Zala added. Cyber cell sleuths said that during primary interrogation the accused admitted to committing seven such offences across Madhavpura, Law garden, Kalupur, Relief Road and Prem Darwaza.

"The gang used to fix fake registration number plates on their two-wheelers to avoid being identified," added a cyber-cell official.