In a swift action by the Swargate Police, Pratik Vijay Mane, 24, a resident of Manjari, was arrested on Monday in connection with the mobile phone theft at the Swargate ST Bus Stand. The accused, originally from Solapur district, was apprehended after a thorough investigation, which revealed his involvement in multiple mobile phone thefts targeting passengers at the bus stand.
Mane is a known criminal with a history of offenses and had been externed by Hadapsar Police for two years. Along with his accomplice Karan Ghadge, also from Manjari, Mane would steal mobile phones from unsuspecting commuters in the crowded environment of the bus stand, later selling them in the market.
The breakthrough in the case came when police officers Sujay Pawar, Harshal Shinde, and Feroz Sheikh received a tip-off about a suspicious individual near the Katraj PMPML Bus Stop. Acting on the information, the Swargate Police team detained Pratik Vijay Mane and during a search operation, recovered three mobile phones from his possession. Upon further questioning, the police managed to recover a total of six stolen mobile phones, valued at approximately Rs1.5 lakh.
According to the police, Mane and his accomplice, Ghadge, targeted mobile phones from commuters, taking advantage of the crowded conditions at the bus stand to carry out their thefts unnoticed. Authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about their network and potential buyers of the stolen phones.
Pratik Vijay Mane has been booked for mobile phone theft and further legal proceedings are underway. The police have urged commuters to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity at public transport hubs to curb such crimes.