Date:20/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/20/stories/2008112060400500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Mobiles stolen

Staff Reporter

Phones, SIM cards worth 12.21 lakh lost

PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

COLLECTING EVIDENCE: Forensic experts at the Nokia showroom which was burgled in Secunderabad on Wednesday.

HYDERABAD: Thieves took away mobile phones and SIM cards worth Rs. 12.21 lakh after drilling a hole on the wall of a Nokia phone shop located in a commercial complex on RP road in Secunderabad on Wednesday.

The Mahankali police suspect that at least two persons were involved in the burglary that came to light when the shop was opened in the morning. The semi-circular hole, enough for a lean man to wriggle through, was dug with a short crowbar which was found at the crime scene, police said. The complex had no watchman and the shop was on the ground floor of the complex.

Thieves entered the narrow open space adjacent to the complex, drilled the hole on the wall to enter the shop and took away 104 mobile phones along with SIM cards.

The shelves in the shop were also opened using screwdrivers. A crowbar, two screw drivers and some wooden tools used by carpenters were found. Sniffer dogs led the police till the Bata showroom located a few yards away indicating the retreat route of the intruders.