Taxi drivers trap mobile phone thief who targeted them

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Sep 1, 2013: A man who was in the habit of targeting taxi drivers and then stealing their cell phones, has been trapped by the taxi drivers themselves at Padubidri on August 31, Saturday.

The accused has been identified as Zakir Hussain (45) of Krishnapur Fourth Block.  Taxi drivers had been alert after at least four cases of cheating taxi drivers after hiring their vehicles had been reported in the past four days.

It is learnt, on Saturday, the man had hired a taxi to go to a marriage hall at Udyavar and then to  Ullal. The driver though took him to the Halima Sabu hall, grew suspicious about his behavior and alerted  taxi drivers association. Accordingly, the taxi drivers of Mulki, Padubidri and Mangalore, chased the car and trapped the accused Zakir Hussain near Padubidri. He was given a good thrashing which forced him to admit his guilt.

He was later handed over to the police who have seized two mobile phones and three sim cards from him. Police said he used to sell the stolen mobiles for as low as Rs 500 to Rs 1000. His modus operandi was to hire the car,ask the driver to take him to Ullal and then request the driver’s mobile phone to make a call and eventually flee the place.

It is learnt, Zakir was planning to target drivers in Katapady, Pangala and Kaup when he was caught.