Delhi Police nabs two 'Thak-Thak' gang members, recovers ₹6 lakh cash
Synopsis
Delhi Police's AATS cracked an interstate 'Thak-Thak' gang with a deceptively simple method: fake a tyre puncture, steal the bag. Two habitual offenders — one with over 30 prior cases — have been arrested, ₹6 lakh in cash and a haul of stolen goods recovered, and three Delhi-NCR theft cases solved. The wider network remains under investigation.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police AATS arrested Gangesh Naydu (40) and Vikram (33) , both of Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar , on 28 June 2026 .
Police recovered ₹6 lakh in cash , gold jewellery, one laptop , one MacBook , approximately 1.1 kg of silver articles , burglary tools, and the gang's scooty .
The operation cracked three theft and burglary cases across Delhi-NCR and Gurugram, Haryana .
Gangesh Naydu has more than 30 previous criminal cases ; Vikram faces charges including robbery and Arms Act offences across multiple states.
The gang used the 'Thak-Thak' distraction technique — faking vehicle defects to steal from unsuspecting victims.
Investigators are working to dismantle the wider interstate Thak-Thak network and recover remaining stolen property.
Delhi Police's Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the South District arrested two alleged members of the interstate 'Thak-Thak' gang on Saturday, 28 June 2026, recovering stolen cash worth ₹6 lakh, jewellery, electronic gadgets, burglary tools, and the two-wheeler allegedly used in the crimes. The operation has also helped crack three theft and burglary cases registered across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Who Was Arrested
The two accused have been identified as Gangesh Naydu (40), a resident of Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar, New Delhi, and Vikram (33), also from Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar. Both are alleged to be habitual offenders with multiple prior criminal involvements spanning Delhi, Haryana, and Karnataka.
Police records show that Gangesh Naydu carries more than 30 previous cases, primarily theft-related, registered at stations across Gurugram — including DLF Phase-I, DLF Phase-II, Sushant Lok, and Sadar Gurugram — as well as in Faridabad and Karnataka. Vikram has cases registered in Delhi, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, including robbery charges under Sections 392, 394, and 397 of the Indian Penal Code, and offences under the Arms Act.
How the Gang Operated
According to police, the gang specifically targeted individuals who had recently withdrawn cash from banks or were visibly carrying valuables. One member would approach the victim's vehicle and point out a fabricated problem — such as a punctured tyre or an oil leak — to divert attention. While the victim stepped out to inspect, an accomplice would swiftly remove bags containing cash, jewellery, or electronic devices from the vehicle and flee on a scooty. This distraction-based method is the hallmark of what is widely known as the 'Thak-Thak' technique.
What Was Recovered
During searches following the arrests, police seized ₹6 lakh in cash, two mobile phones, one laptop, one MacBook, five gold-coloured bangles, three gold-coloured chains, approximately 1.1 kg of silver articles, one wristwatch, Samsung earbuds, burglary tools, and the scooty allegedly used in the offences.
The operation has been linked to three registered cases: E-FIR No. 80003569/2026 at Ambedkar Nagar Police Station; E-FIR No. 880034736/2026 at Neb Sarai Police Station; and FIR No. 293/2026 under Sections 305 and 324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Sector-65 Police Station, Gurugram, Haryana.
The Operation
Acting on specific intelligence received on 30 June, the AATS team laid a strategic trap and apprehended both suspects. The operation was led by Inspector Amit Dutt Sharma, In-charge of AATS South District, under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Rituraj. The team included Sub-Inspector Shajid Hussain, ASI Ravinder Singh, Woman Head Constable Seema, Head Constable Devendra, and Constables Kana Ram, Arvind, and Ashok.
What Comes Next
Investigators are continuing efforts to identify other members of the wider interstate network, recover remaining stolen property, and link the accused to additional unsolved cases. The South District Police indicated that the recovered items are expected to serve as crucial evidence in multiple pending investigations.
Point of View
Gurugram, and Bengaluru for over a decade, yet Gangesh Naydu alone had accumulated more than 30 prior cases without being taken off the street for good. That points to a systemic gap: repeat offenders cycling through arrests and bail with limited disruption to their operations. The interstate spread — Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka — also underscores that local police coordination alone is insufficient. The real test of this operation is not the two arrests but whether investigators can map and dismantle the broader network before its members resurface under new identities.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Thak-Thak' gang and how does it operate?
The 'Thak-Thak' gang is an interstate criminal network that uses distraction-based theft to target individuals carrying cash or valuables. One member feigns a vehicle problem — such as a punctured tyre or oil leak — to draw the victim's attention, while an accomplice steals bags from the vehicle and escapes on a two-wheeler.
Who were the two gang members arrested by Delhi Police?
The arrested individuals are Gangesh Naydu (40) and Vikram (33), both residents of Dakshinpuri, Ambedkar Nagar, New Delhi. Both are described by police as habitual offenders with criminal records spanning Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, and Ghaziabad.
What was recovered during the Delhi Police AATS operation?
Police recovered ₹6 lakh in cash, two mobile phones, one laptop, one MacBook, five gold-coloured bangles, three gold-coloured chains, approximately 1.1 kg of silver articles, a wristwatch, Samsung earbuds, burglary tools, and the scooty allegedly used in the crimes.
How many cases have been solved following the arrests?
The operation has helped crack three registered cases — two E-FIRs at Ambedkar Nagar and Neb Sarai police stations in New Delhi, and one FIR at Sector-65 Police Station in Gurugram, Haryana, filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Investigation is ongoing. Police are working to identify other members of the interstate Thak-Thak network, link the recovered property to additional unsolved cases, and recover remaining stolen goods. Further arrests have not been ruled out.
