Knock, knock! Mumbai man rolls down window of car, two steal 2 iPhones kept on seat

Police say modus operandi similar to that of infamous ‘thak thak’ gang, which was busted earlier this year

The Kherwadi police are looking for two men who stole two iPhones worth Rs90,000 from a car after distracting the driver on the Western Express Highway in Bandra (East) on Wednesday.

Two gang members engage the driver in a conversation while one of them steals his phone.(HT PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)

According to the police, the method used by two was similar to the modus operandi of a ‘thak thak’ gang, which carried out several such crimes across Mumbai this year till they were caught.

The police are investigating if the same accused are out on bail and are behind the crime or if there is a new gang.

According to the police, the incident took place on Wednesday around 6.45 pm. The victim, Madhusudan Patrachari, 29, a resident of Chunabhatti, was on his way back home in his car. He was stuck in a traffic jam on the south-bound stretch of the highway at Kherwadi junction.

He alleged in the FIR that two men knocked on the car’s left window. According to the police, after he lowered the window, one of them struck up a conversation with Patrachari. While one of them engaged with Patrachari, the other quickly picked up the iPhones kept next to the driver’s seat and then both fled the spot.

The driver could not make out if they were on bike or came walking, police said. An FIR has been registered against the unknown accused under sections 379 and 34 of Indian Penal Code for theft.

The Mumbai police earlier this year had busted a thak thak gang with the arrest of two men.