In a meticulously planned theft operation, Delhi Railway Police arrested four men, including Amit Kumar (37), for allegedly stealing only black and blue bags from trains and railway stations to avoid CCTV detection.
The gang, consisting of Amit Kumar, Karan Kumar (27), Gaurav (33), and Punit Mahto, all from Bihar, was busted after five bag thefts were reported aboard the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra SF Express at New Delhi Railway Station.
According to DCP (Railways) KPS Malhotra, police analyzed CCTV footage and traced the gang to a hotel in Paharganj, where they were arrested. Punit Mahto was later caught at Anand Vihar station.
The gang deliberately targeted only black and blue bags, exploiting their common appearance to remain inconspicuous in crowded places. Once a bag was stolen, it was taken to a hotel, emptied, and then the empty bag was returned or abandoned at the station to mislead authorities.
A total of 16 stolen bags, 2 mobile phones, and Rs47,000 in cash were recovered. Investigations revealed that they operated across Delhi, Rajasthan, and Bihar, using safe houses and constantly changing phones, SIM cards, and aliases to evade detection.
Punit, a repeat offender, has a criminal history involving narcotics, robbery, and organized theft.
“This group had mastered the art of blending in with the crowd. By sticking to common-looking luggage, they made it difficult for anyone, including surveillance teams, to flag their activity,” said DCP Malhotra.
