Lure of parties makes minors steal cellphones

Pune: The duo used to party hard after stealing cellphones and cash from the flats in Katraj and Ambegaon area.
This splurging of money brought the police to them and a crime branch team detained the two minors and recovered 10 smartphones worth Rs 1.17 lakh from them.
The crime branch (unit-II) led by inspector Satish Nikam told TOI that police constables Ajinath Kale had received a tip-off that two boys from Ambegaon Pathar have been spending money daily on parties.
"They would come to Trimurti Chowk in Ambegaon to sell the stolen cellphones," Nikam said.
Police laid a trap and detained both and they were identified by the informer. "When we checked the duo, we found four smartphones in their possession," Nikam said.
During questioning, the duo admitted to their involvement in the thefts in Katraj and Ambegaon area. "They told us that they had stolen six more smartphones and had sold them at throwaway prices," Nikam said.
They would get into the premises of societies early in the morning. "They used to enter flats with unlocked doors and steal cash and cellphones from the drawing rooms," Nikam said.
The duo was aware that college students or employees of call centres keep the doors of their flats open for their room-mates who return home in the early hours of the morning.
They would sell the stolen smartphones just for Rs 2,000 and used to spend the money on parties. "We have recovered 10 cellphones worth Rs 1.17 lakh from them," Nikam said.
Both the suspects have failed in the SSC exam. One of the suspects' father is a driver, while the other's is a labourer, inspector Nikam added.