Delhi Police Bust Organized Mobile Theft Gang After Major Heist at AP Dhillon Concert

Organized Crime Bust: Mobile Theft Ring Dismantled After AP Dhillon Concert Heist

The Delhi Police Crime Branch successfully concluded a 48-hour pursuit resulting in the dismantling of an inter-state mobile theft operation that targeted the AP Dhillon concert at Indira Gandhi indoor stadium on Sunday. Authorities recovered 40 high-end smartphones valued at several lakhs of rupees. Four gang members, including the ringleader, were apprehended following a meticulous operation conducted by the Eastern Range-I unit.

The apprehended suspects—Salman, Imran, Shahrukh, and Wasim, all Ghaziabad residents—were intercepted driving a grey Maruti Ignis near Yamuna Vihar Metro Station on December 9. The Crime Branch team, led by Inspector Ashish Sharma under ACP Sunil Srivastav's supervision, had been monitoring the group's activities since December 8 after receiving specific intelligence information.

The confiscated devices included premium smartphones such as the latest iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, Samsung S24 Ultra, Galaxy Fold 6, and various high-end models from OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, Redmi, and Motorola. Several devices have already been matched with recently filed FIRs in Prashant Vihar, Shahbad Dairy, and IP Estate areas.

During interrogation, authorities discovered that kingpin Salman had established the gang to maintain his extravagant lifestyle. They strategically targeted crowded venues including concerts, metro stations, bars, railway terminals, and busy marketplaces.

The group operated with professional precision: surrounding victims, creating distractions, and swiftly stealing their phones. Stolen iPhones were immediately wrapped in aluminum foil to block tracking signals, rendering them untraceable via the "Find My iPhone" feature. The gang would transport their stolen merchandise to Ghaziabad within hours, selling them in the grey market at significantly reduced prices.

The Crime Branch utilized technical surveillance to track the suspects' constantly changing locations. The decisive breakthrough occurred on December 9 when officers intercepted their vehicle despite the accused making last-minute escape attempts.

All four suspects have been charged under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police are currently connecting additional cases and identifying buyers and associates within the grey market network.

This enforcement action adds to previous criminal records of the accused, particularly Shahrukh, who is connected to multiple metro theft incidents across Delhi.

According to officials, the operation reinforces the Crime Branch's aggressive stance against organized phone theft syndicates operating in Delhi-NCR. Additional arrests and recoveries are anticipated as the investigation progresses.