Date:24/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/24/stories/2007062460880300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

20 cellphones recovered, three arrested

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: The city police arrested three persons who were allegedly involved in cellphones’ theft here on Saturday. The police recovered 20 cellphones in various cases, which were registered under Machavaram and Patamata police stations limits.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, ACP (Central) N. Rama Chandra Murthy said that Pothireddi Ranga Reddy, 21, alias Kothi of Payakapuram, Ragaala Rambabu, 28, and Itta Sekhar, 25, both belonging to Vijayadurga Nagar, were arrested in connection with cellphone theft. While Ranga Reddy allegedly committed thefts under Patamta police station limits, the other two were wanted for offences in Machavaram police station limits, he said.

The ACP said Ranga Reddy chose persons who were in inebriated condition to pick the phones. He had stolen as many as 10 phones in Autonagar, Ramalingeswara Nagar, Model Super Market, Patamatalanka, New RTC Colony, Patamata Rythu Bazar, Gurunanak Colony and Benz Circle, he said. The other two accused persons worked as a team and stole phones in busy areas like bus stations and tea stalls. The ACP asked the people not to purchase cellphones if they were being sold at very low prices.