Mumbai local train commuter's phone snatched at Churchgate, Bandra GRP nabs serial snatcher

The Government Railway Police GRP Crime Branchs Bandra Unit 6 has arrested a 25yearold man allegedly involved in multiple thefts on Mumbai local trains following a phonesnatching incident at Churchgate officials saidPolice have recovered stolen valuables worth Rs 117 lakh including two mobile phones and a gold barThe accused identified as Rohit Manjji Satleya alias Kharwa was arrested following an investigation into a mobile phone snatching incident at Churchgate railway station on October 23 police saidMobile phone snatched from passenger at ChurchgateAccording to the police the incident took place at around 919 am on October 23 when the complainant was walking along Platform 4 at Churchgate station As a Bhayanderbound local train began moving an unidentified person allegedly snatched the passengers mobile phone valued at around Rs 12000 through the open doorwayA case was registered at Churchgate Railway Police Station under Section 3042 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS 2023CCTV footage helps police identify suspectFollowing directions from senior GRP officials including Commissioner of Railway Police M Rakesh Kalasagar DCP Crime Pragya Jedge and ACP Crime Sopan Kakad Senior Police Inspector Anil Kadam instructed Bandra Unit 6 to conduct a parallel investigationUnder Kadams supervision Assistant Police Inspector Ganpat Sule and his team examined CCTV footage from the place of incident The suspects footage was circulated among confidential informants following which police identified him as Rohit Manjji Satleya alias KharwaActing on a tipoff that the suspect was approaching the eastern side of Virar railway station the team laid a trap and apprehended himTwo mobile phones and gold bar recoveredDuring interrogation the accused allegedly confessed to the Churchgate mobile phone snatching as well as a separate gold theft registered at Bandra Railway Police StationPolice recovered stolen property worth Rs 117 lakh comprising A white Redmi Note 13 5G mobile phone valued at Rs 12000 A white Samsung Galaxy A06 mobile phone valued at Rs 15000 A gold bar weighing 7980 grams valued at Rs 90000Accused linked to cases across railway networkAccording to the police Satleya is a native of Bhavnagar Gujarat and resides near the railway bridge in Vasai West His criminal record includes cases registered at several railway police stations including Wadala CSMT Andheri Kalyan Mumbai Central Borivali and VasaiPolice said his alleged modus operandi involved snatching mobile phones from passengers standing near train doorways and targeting commuters who had fallen asleep during their journeysGRP issues safety advisory for commutersThe GRP has urged local train passengers to remain alert and keep their valuables secure while travellingWomen commuters have been advised to carry valuables inside zipped handbags Passengers have also been urged to avoid falling asleep while carrying expensive belongings