Tirupati police recover 195 stolen phones bound for Bangladesh, four arrested

The Tirupati police on Tuesday (August 18, 2026) recovered a huge cache of 195 mobile phones and five tablet PCs stolen from a retail store just minutes before they were to be shipped to Bangladesh.

The gang’s kingpin Alam Shaik (49). This person is wanted in twelve cases throughout Jharkhand, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, was arrested along with Md. Basheeruddin Shaik (66), Tonic Shaik (32), and Md. Ashmoul Shaik.

After a robbery at a major outlet. It is part of a State-wide retail chain, the police swung into action and solved the crime within six days using intelligence inputs and technology. The inter-state gang of four was taken into custody.

The special team formed under Additional Superintendent (Crime) A. Srinivasulu studied the pattern of theft and compared it with similar patterns elsewhere, and deputed special teams to Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Bengal.

Even before the accused could reach the Bengal border, the police cracked the pattern and reached the receiver’s point. While the fourth accused was arrested in Tirupati.

The accused hailing from Sahibgunj district of Jharkhand were found to be repeating the same modus operandi and selling off the mobiles in Malda (Bengal) from where the consignment would reportedly be sent to Bangladesh or Nepal.

Superintendent of Police L, three persons involved in the crime were arrested on the spot, including the receiver. Subbarayudu, who inspected the recovered mobile phones, briefed the media on Tuesday. He said the burglars had gained entry into the retail store by digging a hole in the wall in the early hours.

Mr. Subbarayudu appreciated the CLUES, command control, and the cyber crime teams for working in tandem to crack the case involving ₹1.50 crore.