A quick-thinking 13-year-old girl helped the Vakola police trace a knife-wielding mobile phone snatcher who had targeted a school teacher on the night of June 30. The accused, who was on a motorbike, had pulled up on the victim, Divya Parmar, 27, near the Western Express Highway.
The victim, along with her dog Koko and her 13-year-old neighbour, was out for a night walk at Vakola in Santacruz when the accused began following them on his bike. ILLUSTRATIONS/UDAY MOHITE
According to the police, Parmar was walking her Pomeranian, Koko, and was accompanied by the young girl, who is her neighbour, when, around 11.30 pm, an unidentified biker, riding on the wrong side of the road, began following them and revving his engine aggressively. Eventually, he tried to snatch the woman’s mobile phone. Parmar, however, held on tightly and screamed, “Chor! Chor!” Locals then gathered at the scene.
The accused stopped near the woman, revving his bike to attract her attention. He then snatched the woman’s mobile phone and pulled out a knife from his pocket
A police officer said, “The accused brandished a knife and threatened both the woman and onlookers, saying he would kill anyone who came close. He then managed to flee with the woman’s mobile phone.” Meanwhile, the teenager managed to note down the biker’s registration number and immediately informed the police.
The 13-year-old girl shared the registration number with Vakola police. Using the number and CCTV footage, police traced the accused. Multiple stolen mobile phones, including the woman’s, were recovered
“We checked CCTV footage from the area, and using the registration number provided by the girl, we successfully traced the accused,” the officer added. “We also recovered the mobile phone and returned it to the victim. Since it was dark, it would have been difficult to track the suspect, but thanks to the girl’s timely help, investigating the case was easy.”
The Vakola police display phones seized from the accused, Mohamad Shaikh (in hood), arrested last week. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The accused, identified as Mohamad Sahil Abdul Kalam Shaikh, 22, was arrested last week. According to the police, he has been named in multiple mobile phone and chain snatching cases across the city.
Mother speaks
The mother of the teenager told mid-day, “My daughter is very brave. She noted down the bike’s number, which helped the police trace the accused. She was on a night walk with a neighbour and her dog.
After snatching the mobile phone, the accused pulled out a knife, and everyone got scared. No one came forward to help because he was armed. We only hope that the man does not try to take revenge and harm us.”
