New Delhi, Jul 12 (IANS): A 35-year-old "habitual thief", who only targeted passengers on long-route interstate buses, to steal their belongings, especially laptops, was arrested by the Delhi Police, an official said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Kamal Kumar, disclosed that he used to take deluxe tourist buses to travel from one state to another.

"He used to take the rear seat of the bus to observe the activity and belongings of other fellow passengers and he used to identify the passengers having laptops. During the journey when the already marked passenger went to sleep, the accused used to steal the bag containing laptop and de-board the bus nonchalantly," Deputy Commissioner of Police Sagar Singh Kalsi said.

The DCP said a team from the Kashmere Gate police station was conducting intensive patrolling and at about 10.30 p.m. when the staff reached near Yudhister Setu U-turn, ISBT Kashmere Gate, they noticed a person coming from Metro Gate No 5.

Seeing the police team, the person tried to escape from the spot, but was apprehended after a short chase and one button-actuated knife was recovered from his possession.

During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused was a desperate and habitual thief and used to particularly steal passengers' laptops in inter-state buses. He was earlier arrested by Civil Lines police station and ten laptops were recovered from his possession. "As soon as he got bail in the cases, the accused came again to ISBT Kashmere Gate to hunt another victim," the official said, adding the accused has now been arrested in a case under the Arms Act.