Delhi: Fake bike taxi rider turns into mobile snatcher, arrested

A 37-year-old habitual offender, who allegedly posed as a bike taxi rider to target unsuspecting late-night passengers before snatching their mobile phones and fleeing, was arrested, officials said on Thursday.

Police said the accused, Munender, a resident of Singhu village in outer north Delhi, used a stolen motorcycle to carry out the crimes and specifically targeted passengers by offering rides at cheaper fares during night hours.

''The case came to light after a man approached police on May 20 alleging that a bike taxi rider had snatched his mobile phone near Hans Bhawan on BSZ Marg in the ITO area,'' a senior police officer said.

According to the police, the complainant had booked a ride for Okhla when the rider offered him a lower fare and persuaded him to travel without using the application. Near BSZ Marg, the accused allegedly asked the passenger to get off the motorcycle on the pretext of a police check due to the absence of a helmet.

''As soon as the complainant started crossing the road, the rider snatched his mobile phone and sped away,'' an officer said.

An FIR was registered at the IP Estate police station. A police team analysed CCTV footage and developed local intelligence inputs before tracing and arresting the accused from the Vikas Marg area.

During interrogation, Munender allegedly confessed to his involvement in multiple cases. Police recovered the complainant's phone, another stolen mobile phone linked to a separate case in north Delhi, and the motorcycle used in the offence, which was found stolen from the Narela area.

The police said the accused was previously involved in several theft and snatching cases across Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)