Delhi Police arrest two in Shahdara burglary, mobile snatching racket
Synopsis
Two men with prior criminal records were nabbed near M.P. Park in Delhi's Shahdara district after a late-night surveillance operation, with police linking them to at least five theft cases. The arrests reveal a pattern of deliberate late-night targeting of lone individuals — and the investigation is not yet closed.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested Abhishek Verma (23) and Ashish (28) on 26 May for burglary and mobile snatching in Shahdara district .
A stolen Hero Splendor motorcycle and one Vivo mobile phone were recovered from the accused.
The case originated from a theft at a Krishna Nagar factory on 21 May , where two Vivo phones and a motorcycle were stolen.
Police claim to have resolved four additional theft cases based on the accused's disclosures.
Accused Ashish has at least two prior FIRs registered against him at the same police station.
Further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the duo's criminal activities across the district.
Delhi Police on Tuesday, 26 May arrested two accused — Abhishek Verma, 23, of Karawal Nagar, and Ashish, 28 — for their alleged involvement in a series of burglary, theft, and mobile snatching incidents in Shahdara district. A stolen Hero Splendor motorcycle and one stolen Vivo mobile phone were recovered from their possession.
How the Case Unfolded
The arrests stem from a complaint filed after a theft at a factory premises in Krishna Nagar. On 21 May, at approximately 12:30 am, the complainant parked his motorcycle outside the factory and went inside to rest, inadvertently leaving the door unlocked. By 5 am, he discovered that two Vivo mobile phones kept inside and his motorcycle parked outside had been stolen.
An FIR bearing number 182/26, dated 23 May, was registered at Police Station Krishna Nagar under Sections 305(a), 305(b), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The Operation and Arrests
A dedicated police team was constituted under the Station House Officer (SHO) of Krishna Nagar Police Station, comprising SI Harshvardhan, ASI Rahul, HC Neeraj, HC Sachin Chikara, ASI Sanjeev Kumar, HC Jitender, Constable Arvind, HC Abhay Panwar, and HC Jitender from the Technical Surveillance Team (TST). The operation was supervised by the ACP of Gandhi Nagar and guided by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Shahdara District.
Acting on specific intelligence gathered through local informers and technical surveillance, the team intercepted both accused near M.P. Park during the intervening night of 23 and 24 May.
Accused Background and Additional Cases
During interrogation, accused Ashish allegedly confessed to involvement in the present case and disclosed his role in several other theft incidents at Police Station Krishna Nagar. Based on his disclosures, police claim to have resolved four additional theft cases, including multiple e-FIRs registered under the BNS.
Ashish has a prior criminal record. Earlier cases registered against him include FIR No. 373/24 under Sections 305(a), 317(2), and 3(5) BNS, and FIR No. 425/23 under Sections 379, 411, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), both at the same police station.
Police said the accused allegedly targeted lone individuals during late-night hours after conducting prior surveillance of residential and commercial premises in the area.
What Comes Next
Further investigation is underway to determine whether the duo was involved in additional criminal activities across Shahdara district. Police have not ruled out more arrests as the probe continues.
Point of View
But the pattern they expose is worth scrutiny. Accused Ashish already carried two prior FIRs at the same police station — raising the question of why repeat offenders remain active in the same jurisdiction. The late-night surveillance modus operandi targeting unlocked or poorly secured premises is a recurring vulnerability in urban Delhi that policing alone cannot fix. The resolution of four additional cases on the back of a single interrogation also suggests that many such e-FIRs go uninvestigated until a larger catch forces a reckoning.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were arrested by Delhi Police in the Shahdara burglary case?
Delhi Police arrested Abhishek Verma, 23, a resident of Karawal Nagar, and Ashish, 28, who was reportedly living as a vagabond, in connection with burglary, theft, and mobile snatching incidents in Shahdara district. Both were apprehended near M.P. Park during the night of 23-24 May.
What was stolen in the Krishna Nagar factory theft?
A Hero Splendor motorcycle and two Vivo mobile phones were stolen from a factory premises in Krishna Nagar on 21 May at around 12:30 am. The complainant had inadvertently left the factory door unlocked before resting inside.
How many cases are linked to the arrested accused?
Police claim to have resolved at least five theft cases — the original FIR and four additional cases — based on disclosures made by accused Ashish during interrogation. Ashish also has two prior FIRs at Police Station Krishna Nagar.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Further investigation is ongoing. Delhi Police are examining whether the two accused were involved in additional criminal activities across Shahdara district, and have not ruled out more arrests.
Under which legal sections were the accused charged?
An FIR bearing number 182/26, dated 23 May, was registered under Sections 305(a), 305(b), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Krishna Nagar, Delhi.
