Gang That Targeted AP Dhillon Concert Busted After 48 Hour Chase 40 Phones Recovered

A high-intensity 48-hour pursuit by the Delhi Police Crime Branch has led to the busting of an inter-state mobile theft syndicate that operated at the AP Dhillon concert held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on Sunday. The police recovered 40 high end smartphones worth several lakhs of rupees and arrested four gang members, including the kingpin.

Delhi Police Crime Branch recovered 40 high-end smartphones and arrested four members of a mobile theft gang that targeted the AP Dhillon concert.

How the Arrest Happened

The accused Salman, Imran, Shahrukh and Wasim, all residents of Ghaziabad were intercepted on December 9 in a grey Maruti Ignis near Yamuna Vihar Metro Station. The operation, led by Inspector Ashish Sharma under the supervision of ACP Sunil Srivastav, was initiated after specific intelligence inputs on December 8.

Among the seized devices were the iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, Samsung S24 Ultra, Galaxy Fold 6, and premium phones from OnePlus, Vivo, Oppo, Redmi and Motorola. Several have already been matched with FIRs registered in Prashant Vihar, Shahbad Dairy and IP Estate.

Modus Operandi: Distract, Steal, Sell

Investigations revealed that Salman created the gang to fund a lavish lifestyle. Their strategy relied on:

• Targeting crowded locations concerts, metro stations, markets, bars and railway stations

• Surrounding victims and distracting them before swiftly stealing phones

• Wrapping stolen iPhones in aluminium foil to block tracking through “Find My iPhone”

• Transporting devices to Ghaziabad within hours and selling them in the grey market at reduced prices

  
  

How Police Cracked the Case

Using advanced technical surveillance, the Crime Branch traced the suspects’ frequently changing locations. The decisive moment came on December 9, when the team intercepted their vehicle despite last-minute attempts to escape.

All four accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Police are now connecting additional theft cases and identifying grey-market buyers linked to the racket.

Shahrukh, one of the arrested men, has a history of involvement in multiple metro theft cases in Delhi.

Crackdown on Organised Mobile Theft

Officials said the operation reflects the Crime Branch’s intensified efforts to curb organised mobile theft syndicates operating across Delhi-NCR. More arrests and recoveries are expected as the investigation continues.