300 mobile phones stolen every day in Dhaka: DB

In Dhaka and its surrounding areas, an average of 300 mobile phones are stolen every day, said Mohammad Harun Or Rashid, chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

He said this in a press conference at DMP media centre after the arrest of 16 members including two leaders of the robbery group from different areas.

The arrestees are Md. Mizan, Amirul Islam Babu, Sharif Hossain, Riday, Raj, Suman, Sohail Babu, Riday, Moniruzzaman, Nazmul, Monir, Imran, Farooq, Ashraful Islam Sajib, Arif and Hasan.

The Mohajan [gang bosses] set a target for each of them to steal at least three mobile phones every day, according to the arrestees, who informed the DB that 100 people wander the city streets every day.

"So, on average, 300 mobile phones are stolen in the city every day," he continued.

Every time someone talks on the phone or uses the internet while seated next to a bus or automobile window, thieves grab their phones.

Then, the gang leaders pay them a low price for the phones.

He added that in other instances, the gang bosses would modify the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the phones before selling them, while the pricier phones would be disassembled and sold in pieces.