Mumbai police arrest three for house break-ins, robberies in Khar

The arrests had solved 18 offences registered at Khar, Bandra, Santacruz and Vakola police stations.

Khar police have arrested three persons on who were involved in a series of house break-ins, phone snatching and robbery cases in the western suburbs.

Police arrested 28-year-old Ashraf Shaikh and 23-year-old Asif Shaikh. (HT Photo)

The arrests happened on May 4.

Khar police persons earlier received a tip-off about the movements of two men carrying weapons. Deploying a team, the police laid a trap near Dr BR Ambedkar Road in Khar (West). They arrested 28-year-old Ashraf Shaikh, who was found carrying a 7.65 mm pistol with six live cartridges, and 23-year-old Asif Shaikh, who had on him a steel chopper.

“We ran a background check on the two accused and found that Ashraf had 10 cases of robbery, house break-ins, theft and cases under the Arms Act registered against him, while Asif was involved in six similar cases,” said a police officer, requesting anonymity.

Khar police also recovered seven mobile phones and a Rolex watch after interrogating the suspects. “Most of the criminal cases against them are registered at police stations close to the Western Express Highway. Areas in that vicinity are the ones they targeted,” the officer said. The arrest had solved 18 offences registered at Khar, Bandra, Santacruz and Vakola police stations.

Further interrogation revealed the two accused sold the stolen phones to a shopkeeper at Manish Market. “Ashraf was not divulging details of their modus operandi after they committed the crime. But Asif informed us that they used to sell the mobile phones to a shopkeeper in Manish Market who then would change the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number of the phones,” he added.

A team was then sent to raid the shop run by two brothers Tauheer and Tauqeer Khan. “We arrested Tauheer but his brother is still absconding,” the officer said. It was found that the Khan brothers used software and some hardware to change the IMEI numbers before reselling phones in the market.

Khar police also said other police stations in the region will now seek custody of Ashraf and Asif Shaikh for investigating other possible crimes they may have committed. “Since their arrest there has been a noticeable dip in snatching and house-breaking theft cases in the region. We have recovered phones, bikes, arms and ammunition, a Rolex watch and other properties so far from the accused,” he said.