108 mobile phones retrieved, 5-member gang busted

An autorickshaw, a two-wheeler and 108 phones were seized from suspects identified as K Umapathy (33), S Saravanan (30), L Naresh (30) and M Vinayagam (45) of Korukkupet, and Umar Farooq (30) of Tondiarpet.

Following several complaints of phone thefts at MTC buses, the special team of Kilpauk Deputy Commissioner K Karthikeyan launched a hunt for the suspects. While they traced some of the phones using IMEI numbers, inquiries led to the conclusion that one gang was behind all the thefts.

After investigation, police arrested the suspects who have been stealing phones from MTC passengers for over six months.

Police said, “Umapathy acted as the leader and sold the phones brought by his gang members.”