Team Herald
PANJIM: Goa Police on Monday claimed to have busted interstate gangs of pickpocketing who targetted the coastal belt during the New Year celebrations.
The accused, in the custody of the respective police stations, hail from Maharashtra, UP, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Bihar and Karnataka while one of the gang members was also a Goan.
“Upon detaining and checking of suspected persons in these areas, initially 67 mobile phones suspected to be stolen were recovered. The information was further developed and upon interrogation of 16 more suspected persons, it was ascertained that the accused persons had come either individually or in small groups specifically to target the tourists in Goa during the New Year period,” reads a press statement issued by the department on Monday evening.
Some tried to escape with stolen phones by train and by road however railway police and border districts of Sindhudurg were alerted. Upon further follow up action, more mobile phones were recovered and in addition, Sindhudurg police apprehended 4 suspects with 29 mobile phones. 144 mobile phones and a laptop were recovered.
