Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Aug 12: A police team led by rural police circle inspector here, Anil S Kulkarni, has succeeded in cracking a case relating to theft of cellphones from a shop in Uppinangady a few days ago. Two persons, Abdul Kabir (29) and MUhammed Asif (24), both from Bengre Mangaluru, who have been accused of committing this theft, have been taken into custody. 11 mobile sets valued at about Rs 50,000 were also confiscated from the possession of the arrested accused. On being produced in court, both the accused were remanded to judicial custody.

The police personnel followed the footsteps of thieves on the basis of information that they had visited Nekkilady and Mani to sell cellphones.

The policemen said that more persons were involved with this theft. They have laid out an elaborate plan to arrest the remaining thieves. The gang, which committed the said theft at around midnight on July 5, is believed to have committed thefts elsewhere too. Policemen have been questioning the team members to gather details.

Cellphones had been stolen from a shop owned by Rajesh Prabhu in Uppinangady nearly a month back. Cellphones valued at about Rs 75,000, recharge cards worth Rs 15,000, and Rs 10,000 in cash had been taken away by thieves. A case about the theft had been registered in Uppinangady station.

It is learnt that the police could get definite information about the location of thieves and hit their trail, based on a call made by one of the gang members from his mobile phone. The call made by him went directly to the cell phone of the shop owner. Based on IMEI number of this phone, the policemen succeeded in getting to know about the whereabouts of the accused.

The policemen said they have got some clues about the thief who stole ornaments and cash from Lord Laxmi Venkataramana temple in Uppinangady sometime back. They are confident of arresting him soon.

The investigating team also had Uppinangady station house officer, Timmappa Naik and staff of this police station.