Pune: Bharati Vidyapeeth Police have successfully arrested a thief involved in snatching expensive mobile phones from pedestrians engaged in phone conversations.

The accused, Azhar Alam Ansari, 21, a resident of Katraj, was apprehended along with his minor accomplice. The police have confiscated seven high-value mobile phones from them, amounting to ₹1,85,000.

The incident occurred on September 28 at around 9:30 AM when Digambar Darade was walking on the road from Katraj Lake towards Utkarsh Society. During this time, one of two individuals on a motorcycle snatched the mobile phone from Darade's hand and fled the scene.

Following the crime, police officers Mitesh Chormole, Abhinav Chaudhary, and Sagar Borge initiated an investigation and gathered information linking the crime to Azhar Ansari, a known offender. The police successfully tracked him down and made the arrest.

During the investigation, the police seized seven mobile phones worth ₹1,85,000 from the accused. So far, three cases have been registered, including two at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station and one at the Kondhwa Police Station. The investigation regarding the other mobile phones is still ongoing.

This operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Deputy Police Commissioner Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Additional Police Commissioner Pravin Kumar Patil, Deputy Police Commissioner Smartna Patil, and Assistant Police Commissioner Rahul Aware,

along with Senior Police Inspector D.S. Patil, Crime Inspector Sharad Zhine, Assistant Police Inspector Sameer Kadam, and Police Sub-Inspectors Nilesh Mokashi, Mitesh Chormale, Avdhut Jamdade, Sagar Borge, Abhinav Chaudhary, Sachin Sarapale, Shailesh Sathe, Namdev Renuse, Chetan Gore, Mahesh Barwakar, Nilesh Dhamdhere, Hanmant Masal, Mangesh Pawar, Nilesh Jamdade, Satish More, Navnath Bhosale, Nilesh Khairmode, Dhanaji Dhotre, and Sachin Gade.