NEW DELHI, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The Delhi Police on Friday claimed to have busted a gang of high-profile thieves who meticulously planned and targeted "big events", including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rallies, Justin Beiber's concert, Formula 1 car races, sporting events, or huge religious congregations to steal high-end smartphones and other valuables.
They then sold the valuables in different markets in Delhi or elsewhere.
Headed by one Aslam Khan, the gang had around six pickpockets who were hired at a monthly salary of 40,000 Indian Rupees (around 580 US dollars). The gang members used to fly to high-profile venues and used to return along with valuables by first class train's compartments so as to avoid police's attention, said a Delhi cop.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast district) Atul Thakur, the police had received a tip-off about the men coming to Maujpur in east Delhi to sell a stolen cache of smartphones. A trap was laid and two persons were nabbed. As many as 46 high-end smartphones, apart from a pistol and cartridges, were recovered from the men, he added.
Thakur said that during interrogation, Aslam Khan confessed that he stole at least 5000 smartphones in the past several years. Khan has been in the "business" of stealing or pick-pocketing for the past two decades.
