Pune has been shaken by a string of brazen mobile robberies, as armed men target unsuspecting residents in crowded localities. In two incidents on June 9, criminals with weapons instilled fear among people, snatching mobile phones and in one instance, draining a large amount through an online transaction. The brazen robberies, committed in Mangalwar Peth and Aundh, have raised concerns regarding spurt in street crime in the city.
Pune| June 11,2025: During the first attack, a 33-year-old Narayan Peth resident became a victim of a premeditated robbery at Mangalwar Peth’s Juna Bazaar at about 6:30 PM. The victim, busy texting on his mobile, was targeted by three attackers, one of whom is a prime suspect by the name Shahid Sheikh. With a knife in their hands, the three overpowered the victim and snatched his phone after physically assaulting and insulting him. The robbers threatened the victim to disclose his phone’s payment app password, which they employed to send Rs. 60,000 to a mysterious account. A case of robbery with a weapon has been registered by the Faraskhana police and is being investigated, with Assistant Police Inspector Shital Jadhav conducting the investigation.
Only hours before, at about 5:00 AM, another robbery took place close to Amrut Sweet Mart along Aundh Road. A 17-year-old young man, who had gone out for an early morning stroll, was ambushed by three thieves riding a motorbike. The attackers, who were armed with a weapon, threatened the teenager and snatched his mobile phone worth Rs. 20,000 at gunpoint before fleeing at high speed. The early morning hour and peaceful environment created an easy target out of the victim, which shows the vulnerability of locals at odd hours.
The two crimes highlight a disturbing trend of robberies at gunpoint against mobile phones, a commodity that is both valuable and easy to resell. The deployment of weapons, such as knives and other bladed instruments, has heightened the risk, traumatizing victims and making residents jittery. The Mangalwar Peth robbery further indicates a worrying level of sophistication, with thieves using stolen phones for financial benefit through unauthorized digital transactions. The Aundh case, however, indicates the audacity of thieves who are targeting popular zones without fear of getting caught.
The police are pressurized to stem this wave of street crime, and investigations have so far concentrated on identifying the culprits and retrieving the stolen gadgets. The fact that several suspects are involved in both cases indicates that it might be the work of organized gangs targeting lonely or preoccupied people. While Pune struggles with these brutal robberies, citizens are advised to be vigilant, especially when accessing mobile phones in public areas or walking alone at early or late evenings. The episodes are a stark reminder of the need for increased alertness and more stringent measures to guarantee public safety within the city’s busy neighborhoods.
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