Woman Outsmarts Phone Snatcher, Helps Delhi Police Nab Thief

A combination of courage and quick thinking helped a Delhi woman catch a phone snatcher, providing a lesson for those who surrender to thieves without a fight.

Incident Details
On 19 January, 60-year-old Anganwadi worker Geeta, while returning from a meeting toward Barafkhana, had her mobile phone snatched in a busy market area in North Delhi. Instead of panicking, she immediately took action that would lead to the thief’s capture.

When the snatcher grabbed her phone around 11:40 AM and fled toward Karol Bagh on a scooter, Geeta returned to her office and borrowed a colleague’s phone to call her stolen device. Surprisingly, the thief answered and demanded Rs 2,000–3,000 for its return. Geeta used the conversation to gather crucial information about his location.

She informed her colleagues, one of whom contacted the police. A PCR van with two constables soon arrived at the scene, and the police continued communication with the thief via Geeta’s phone. The snatcher disclosed his location near the Rani Jhansi Flyover and reiterated his demand for Rs 3,000.

Police Action
Following Geeta’s directions, police traced the route from Barafkhana to the flyover, laying a trap near Filmistan. Expecting an easy payoff, the thief, still holding the stolen phone, was caught by Geeta and the police.

The thief was identified as 22-year-old Rohit Yadav from Sonia Vihar. The stolen phone was recovered, and a case has been registered under Sections 304(2) (snatching) and 317(2) (stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code. Police are investigating whether Yadav has a history of criminal activity.

A Growing Trend of Citizen Vigilance
This is not an isolated case. Earlier this month in Narela, three friends assisted police in apprehending armed robbers who held a mobile shop owner at knifepoint. In October last year, a 61-year-old woman in Model Town, with the help of bystanders, thwarted two motorcyclists attempting to snatch her purse. Similarly, in January last year, a woman in West Vihar East resisted a bike thief attempting to snatch her gold chain while returning home in an e-rickshaw with her mother.

These incidents highlight the significant role ordinary citizens can play in preventing crime through alertness, courage, and quick thinking.