MUMBAI: Mankhurd police arrested a gang of five which used to steal, erase data, dismantle iPhones, and sell them in the second-hand market.
Police recovered 87 mobiles of various brands worth Rs17.8 lakh.
Police said while one or two members were stealing phones near railway stations, auto stands, two others would erase the data, and in some cases of iPhones the gang dismantled them, remove expensive parts and sell them in the second-hand market.
Senior inspector Mahadev Kohli said the case was detected recently on a tip-off when they arrested a 25-year-old youth in connection with a mobile theft case. His arrest led the police to nab his accomplice, who took them to the third accused.
Police recovered the stolen booty. The accused claimed their gang was active all over Mumbai.