Two men, Vipin (52) of Thevara and Mohammed Hashim (48) of Kollam, have been arrested by Ernakulam Central Police in connection with a theft at the General Hospital (GH) on Sunday. The arrests were made under the supervision of SHO Aneesh Joy, who led the investigation.
The incident occurred early Friday morning, when a Thammanam resident’s purse — containing a smartphone worth Rs35,000, Rs5,000 in cash, and an Aadhaar card — was stolen while he was asleep after receiving an injection in a hospital room.
Following the complaint, police traced the stolen mobile phone to the suspects, who were eventually apprehended at Marine Drive. Both were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody.
Authorities suspect the duo was attempting to sell the stolen phone to a broader mobile theft racket, known to operate in Kerala by targeting vulnerable spots such as hospitals, railway stations, and trains.
These rackets are often managed by individuals from outside the state, who purchase stolen phones for resale or spare parts. Investigations are underway to identify and dismantle this underground market for second-hand electronics.
