Andheri MIDC Police Bust Dhakka Gang and Recover 135 Stolen Phones
The MIDC police in Andheri recently busted the ‘Dhakka gang,’ a specialized pickpocketing syndicate that relied on daily coded WhatsApp messages to coordinate thefts on public transport. Led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone 3) Datta Nalawade, the investigative team arrested members of the group and recovered 135 stolen high-end mobile phones valued between Rs 90,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh each.
Investigations into the gang’s network revealed that the group used subtle daily check-ins to communicate without drawing attention from law enforcement. Phrases such as “Chacha ne salaam diya” and “Aaj mausam kaisa hai?” were issued every morning by the gang leader using codes that changed daily. DCP Nalawade noted that the primary purpose of these coded check-ins was not to outline the mechanics of the thefts, but to confirm whether any gang member had been picked up by police and whether it was safe to proceed with planning.
After completing the daily safety check, the gang would decide where to meet and identify which BEST bus routes to target. The syndicate operated with structured job titles and assigned roles to execute each theft. On targeted buses, four or five members would board together while pretending not to know each other. Two or three members would create a deliberate distraction while another member stole the victim's phone or wallet, after which all members exited at different bus stops to evade suspicion.
Police officers found that the gang managed to steal at least five high-end mobile phones every day. Officers noted that the thieves specifically avoided stealing iPhones because they were significantly harder to unlock and held limited resale value in their intended overseas markets, which included Bangladesh and Nepal.
The crackdown unfolded after MIDC police initially arrested two members of the syndicate. Following those initial arrests, the remaining gang members fled their base in Andheri and relocated to Juinagar in Navi Mumbai to continue their operations before police caught up with them. The operation that dismantled the gang was carried out by a team comprising Senior Inspector Ghanshyam Nair, Inspector Sunil Karande, Sub-Inspector Kiran Nawle, and supporting staff.
