A 27-year-old MBA graduate was arrested for allegedly snatching multiple mobile phones across Dwarka, the Delhi Police said.
Seven snatched phones and a stolen scooter used in the crimes were recovered from the accused, officers added.
According to the police, multiple snatching cases had been reported in recent weeks, all involving a lone rider on a scooter who would approach pedestrians or commuters and then flee with their mobile phones.
To zero in on the accused, a police team examined more than 300 CCTV cameras from the surrounding areas, activated local informers and gathered technical intelligence.
According to police, a breakthrough in the case came on November 20 when the police received intel that the snatcher would pass near the railway-line side of Delhi Development Authority (DDA) park around 7 pm. The team laid a trap and soon saw a man approaching the area on foot. When signalled to stop, he attempted to run away but was chased and detained.
Police identified the accused as Pradeep Kumar Malik, a resident of Rajnagar in Palam
A high-end mobile phone was recovered from Malik’s pocket. During questioning, the accused admitted that he had stolen a scooter from the Dabri police station jurisdiction and had been using it to commit the theft. He told the police that the other stolen items or snatched phones were kept in the boot of the same scooter.
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On his instance, police recovered five more mobile phones believed to have been snatched in the areas of Dwarka South and Palam Village. Officers said two additional mobile phones have been recovered but are yet to be linked to specific FIRs.
According to the police, Malik is married and holds an MBA degree from a reputed university. He is currently unemployed and has allegedly fallen into substance abuse, leading him to take up snatching for quick money, officers said. Police records show he has no prior criminal involvement.
