Train Phone Theft Ring Busted in Thane!
Thane police catch 3 thieves, recover 30 stolen phones.
Thane Government Railway Police have apprehended three individuals involved in a sophisticated mobile phone theft operation targeting passengers on express trains, recovering 30 stolen devices valued at ₹4.06 lakh. The arrests, made on Sunday, August 24, 2025, mark a significant breakthrough in a case that began with a theft reported in January 2024.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint from a 25-year-old passenger whose mobile phone was stolen while traveling on the Mahanagari Express in an AC coach between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane on January 25, 2024. Senior Inspector Vijay Khedkar of the Thane Government Railway Police revealed that the suspects exploited the vulnerability of sleeping passengers to steal their devices.
Acting on multiple leads, police identified the culprits as Shankar Nirmal Shah (33), Dhananjay Omprakash Shukla (28), and Mohammad Afzal Jahir Ahmed Ansari (24), all hailing from Madhya Pradesh. A tip-off indicated the trio was planning another theft at Thane station, prompting authorities to set up a sting operation. On Sunday, a police team positioned on the eastern side of the station apprehended the suspects as they arrived, recovering a bag carried by Ansari containing the 30 stolen mobile phones.
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The Thane Government Railway Police are now working to identify the owners of the recovered devices and are investigating whether the trio is linked to additional thefts on trains. This operation underscores the police’s commitment to ensuring passenger safety and curbing criminal activities on India’s railway network.
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