Some perfectly normal phrases that may sound like casual greetings, like “uncle sends his regards” or “how is the weather today?”, carried a very different meaning for the ‘Dhakka gang’ of pickpockets in Mumbai.
What Happened
“The purpose wasn’t to discuss the theft. It was to find out whether anyone had been picked up by police,” he was quoted by TOI as saying. Immediately after two gang members were arrested in Andheri, the remaining members changed their hideout and shifted to Juinagar in Navi Mumbai .
The MIDC police team recovered 135 expensive smartphones from the gang. The market value of these phones ranges from ₹ 90,000 to ₹ 1.5 lakh. This gang actively avoided stealing iPhones because they are extremely difficult to unlock, according to the police.
Only after receiving an “all-clear” would they decide which BEST bus route to target and where to meet up.
People Involved
Following the heist, all members would disperse and escape by getting off at different bus stops. Officers explained that the 4- to 5-member gang would board BEST buses and, without speaking a word to each other, 2 or 3 members would distract the victim by jostling them or creating a commotion.
Meanwhile, the main member of the gang—referred to as the “Machine”—would pick up the phone or wallet from the victim’s pocket.
