Gang of e-rickshaw drivers stealing from passengers busted

The accused have been identified as Shivam alias Shiva of Shanti Nagar of Giaspura, Bablu and Avinash Sharma of Daba village

Police busted a gang of e-rickshaw drivers involved in stealing cash and valuables from passengers. The team recovered 14 mobile phones from their possession.

A case under sections 379 (theft) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the trio at the Focal Point police station. (iStock)

The accused have been identified as Shivam alias Shiva of Shanti Nagar of Giaspura, Bablu and Avinash Sharma of Daba village.

Inspector Amandeep Singh Brar, station house officer (SHO) at the Focal Point Police station, said Bablu used to drive an e-rickshaw while the other two accused, Avinash and Shivam, posed as customers, sitting inside the rickshaw. The latter two would steal cash and mobile phones from the victim’s pockets.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested the accused in the Dhandari Kalan area. Upon checking, police recovered 14 mobile phones that the accused confessed to stealing from various passengers.

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kapil Kumar, in-charge of the Dhandari police post, revealed that Bablu and his accomplices Avinash and Shivam, had formed the gang. They were particularly active in areas including Giaspura, Sahnewal, Dhandari, Sherpur, and Focal Point. The gang was responsible for executing 14 thefts in the past four months.

A case under sections 379 (theft) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the trio at the Focal Point police station.

More information is expected from the accused during questioning.