Gang steals four phones, debit card, makes online purchase for Rs 16k

The victims were identified as Kalith, Nowshad, Babloo and Regan, all of them hailing from Delhi. They were staying in a rented house at PP Gardens in Aminjikarai and working as carpenters in the city.

The police said they slept keeping the house door open due to power cuts on Tuesday night. When they woke up on Wednesday morning, they found their mobile phones and also Kalith’s wallet, which had cash and a debit card, missing. When Kalith called the bank to block the card, he was informed that the card has been used to purchase several products on Amazon. Also, burglars have recharged the mobile phone for Rs 1,600 using the debit card. The victims blocked the card to prevent further transactions and lodged a complaint with the Aminjikarai police. The police have registered a case and launched hunt for the suspects.

The police said that one-time passwords (OTPs) required to complete the online purchases were sent to one of the stolen mobile phones, it was easier for the gang to spend money online.

In another incident, an unidentified man robbed the chain of a 32-year-old woman at knifepoint near Red Hills on Tuesday night. Thepolice said that the victim, R Padmavathi of Chendrambakkam, was at her house when the incidenttook place.

When she opened the door after hearing the doorbell, a man wearing helmet pointed a knife at her and escaped from the spot with her six-sovereign chain. The police have registered a case and have launched a hunt for the suspect.