New Delhi, September 21 (IANS) A 36-year-old Rapido Rider-cum-stolen mobile dealer was arrested, and a pistol and two live cartridges were seized from his possession in Seemapuri in North-West Delhi.
The accused was identified as Salim Khan, a resident of Old Mustafabad.
The police have also recovered 11 mobile phones from the possession of the accused.
In a big crack on mobile phone theft in the national capital, the ER-II team of Crime Branch, Delhi collected secret information about the accused with technical assistance.
Police found that Khan was actively involved in buying stolen mobile phones from a pickpocket working in Delhi Metro and other public transport systems.
Crime Branch Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikram Singh said that Khan was arrested by a team led by Inspector Sunil Kumar Kundu under a close supervision of ACP Kailash Chander Er-II.
During interrogation, Khan revealed that pickpocket would steal and sell the phone from passengers in Delhi Metro and local buses. Later, Khan used to sell stolen phones to a person named Wasim, which would determine the price and final buyers, in a statement.
This highlights the organized network involved in mobile theft, through the end user, middlemen, through middlemen.
The accused said that he used to take a country-made pistol for his safety. Police shared that Khan collected 11 stolen mobile phones from Wasim in DLF Bhopura on Friday.
Police said that while he was returning home, the accused was arrested and was waiting for delivery instructions.
Further investigation is underway to identify and capture the remaining members of the organized crime module.
The recovered mobile phone is being detected through IMEI discoveries, and efforts are underway to return them to their correct owner.
Police statement said that Khan was earlier involved in an NDPS case in Noida (Uttar Pradesh).
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SVN/DPB