Tirupati police recover 195 stolen phones bound for Bangladesh, four arrested

On August 18, 2026, the Tirupati police made a significant breakthrough in recovering 195 stolen mobile phones and five tablet PCs that were en route to Bangladesh. The stolen devices were seized just minutes before they could be transported to their intended destination. The gang's main figure, Alam Shaik, a 49-year-old suspect wanted in twelve criminal cases across multiple Indian states, was among those arrested along with three others - Md. Basheeruddin Shaik, Tonic Shaik, and Md. Ashmoul Shaik.

The theft took place at a major retail store that is part of a state-wide retail chain. A swift police response led to the resolution of the case within six days, thanks to the use of intelligence inputs and advanced technology. A special team, headed by Additional Superintendent A. Srinivasulu, analyzed the pattern of the theft and compared it to similar incidents in other regions, subsequently deploying teams to Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Bengal.

The arrested individuals were found to be following the same modus operandi, which involved digging a hole in the wall to gain entry into the retail store. The recovered mobile phones were identified as having originated from Sahibgunj district in Jharkhand. The arrest of the gang members occurred before they could cross into Bengal and reach their final destination, either in Bangladesh or Nepal.

Superintendent of Police L. Subbarayudu, who inspected the recovered devices, praised the collaborative efforts of the CLUES, command control, and cyber crime teams for successfully solving the case valued at ₹1.50 crore.