Mandya: The moment you look away while visiting a bank, post office, or any shop, the mobile phone kept in your hand or on the table vanishes into thin air! Yes, a unique gang of mobile thieves is currently highly active across Mandya and Mysuru districts, giving sleepless nights to the public. The audacious act of a rogue—who poses as a deaf and mute individual to collect donations and slickly steals mobile phones—has now been captured on CCTV.
Do You Know Their Modus Operandi?
Target Spots: Crowded banks, post offices, jewelry shops, and mobile stores are the prime targets of this gang.
The Waiting Game: The thief first enters a bank or an office and quietly sits on a chair. He waits patiently until the crowd builds up near the counters.
The 'Paper-Cover' Trick: As soon as the rush begins, he approaches the staff, pretending to be deaf and mute, and holds out a donation request letter (receipt/application). To distract the staff's attention, he places the paper directly over the mobile phone kept on the table. Then, under the pretext of lifting the paper, he swiftly pockets the mobile phone beneath it with extreme dexterity.
Bike Escape: As soon as he pulls off the theft and walks out of the office, he escapes within seconds with his accomplice, who stands ready outside with a running motorcycle.
Back-to-Back Thefts in Mandya!
This notorious gang has carried out a series of thefts in Mandya. The culprit diverted the attention of a staff member at the Karnataka Gramin Bank in Kalenahalli village, Mandya taluk, and stole a mobile phone. This entire sequence has been caught clearly on the bank's CCTV cameras. Not stopping there, the trickster went straight to the Main Post Office on V.V. Road in Mandya, barged in, and escaped after stealing a staff member's mobile phone there as well. Currently, these thefts have taken place under the jurisdiction of the Mandya West and Rural Police Stations.
Similar Crime in Mysuru!
After finishing his sly operations in Mandya, this clever gang chose Mysuru as their next target. Entering a famous jewelry shop in Mysuru with a similar donation letter, the rogue pulled off a mobile theft using the exact same old tactic and fled.
Public Beware!
When visiting banks or public places, be immediately alert if strangers approach you and try to draw your attention by showing papers or letters. Do not neglect your mobile phones or valuable belongings by leaving them unattended on tables. Currently, the police have launched a manhunt for these rogues based on the CCTV footage.