Delhi Man Arrested for Phone Theft: Planned to Buy Anniversary Gift for Wife

A Delhi man has been apprehended by police after snatching a mobile phone with the intention of purchasing an expensive anniversary gift for his wife, officials reported on Monday.

The suspect, identified as Rohit, also known as Macchhi, has a history of criminal behavior with 22 previous cases involving robbery and snatching on his record, according to authorities.

Police first detained his partner in crime, 33-year-old Arjun Sareen, who has two prior cases against him. The victim managed to track the stolen phone's location, leading to Sareen's capture.

The theft occurred at approximately 11:30 am on Sunday when the complainant, Ronit Karati, was cycling toward Kishan Ganj. Two men on a motorcycle snatched his mobile phone near a sweets shop on Old Rohtak Road before speeding away.

Following the incident, Karati and a friend tracked the phone using a laptop, eventually locating the suspects at Pratap Nagar metro station. While Karati successfully apprehended Arjun and secured the motorcycle, Rohit initially escaped from the scene.

A senior police officer stated, "After registering a case and beginning investigation, we learned during Arjun's interrogation that Rohit had insisted on committing the theft because he needed money to purchase an expensive anniversary present for his wife."

Arjun additionally revealed that they had covered the motorcycle's license plate with black tape to avoid identification.

Authorities later tracked down and arrested Rohit near railway tracks in the Kishan Ganj area late Sunday night. The stolen mobile phone was recovered from his possession as he was reportedly seeking a buyer for the device.

According to police, Rohit, who struggles with drug addiction, was released from jail in November 2024 and had quickly returned to criminal activities after his release.