Hyderabad: The Shahalibanda police this morning nabbed a five-member “Attention Diversion” gang and recovered the stolen property worth Rs 1,50,000 and an autorickshaw used in the commission of offense from the possession of Shaik Kaleem A4 and A5 receiver of the cell phones.
The accused were identified as Syed Saber, Auto Driver of Mustafa Nagar in Mailardevpally, Syed Jaffer aka Sonu, also Auto Driver of Teegalkunta, Shaik Abubakar Siddique alias Abbu, Auto Driver of Rushan Colony, Vattepally, Shaik Kaleem of Awaini Hills, Mustafa Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, and Syed Nazeer vegetable vendor of Makka Colony in Kalapather.
Police said on December 9 afternoon, A1 Syed Saber, A2 Syed Jaffar and A3 Shaik Abubakar engaged an auto belonging to Shaik Saleem to commit offenses on Shahalibanda and Chandryangutta routes. The modus operandi of the accused was that they travel as passengers in the auto and invite others who wait for an autorickshaw. Later they commit theft of mobile phones by diverting their attention. After committing the offense, they ask the victims to get down as the Auto won’t go to the place where the passenger wants to go.
In similar fashion, on December 9 evening, the accused committed theft of one I-phone 6 worth Rs 50,000 of Ravinder Reddy of Phoolbagh. On the same day, the accused committed similar offenses under Chandryangutta and Rajendra Nagar P.S. limits. The worth of mobile phones was about Rs 1,50,000.
During the investigation, the police came to know that Syed Saber was involved in similar cases in Saifabad, Banjara Hills, Afzalgunj, Humayun Nagar and Jubilee Hills Police stations and was lodged in jail. He was also involved in a murder case under Bahadurpura P.S. limits in 2011. Syed Jaffar is an associate of Syed Saber and involved in similar mobile theft offenses.
Under the supervision of ACP Falaknuma, the cases have been detected by SHO N. Lingaiah, SI N. Sai Krishna and others.(NSS)