Pathanamthitta: Thiruvalla police have arrested a man for stealing two mobile phones from the pocket of a man waiting for a bus at the KSRTC stand. The accused, Sivaprakash (50), was apprehended at Nagampadam SH Mount P Oil Chavittuvalli Mini Mandir in Kottayam. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. yesterday at the Thiruvalla KSRTC stand when Nizam, a resident of Kaustubham house near Adoor Karikineth Textiles, was waiting to catch a bus after visiting a friend in Thiruvalla.
As Nizam was about to board the bus, Sivaprakash snatched two mobile phones – a Samsung worth Rs.80,000 and an Oppo worth Rs.30,000 – from his pocket in the rush. Realizing his phones were missing, Nizam chased the thief and managed to stop him. Two of Nizam’s friends, who were nearby, also rushed to help. The accused had hidden the stolen phones in a plastic bag and attempted to flee, even pushing Nizam and his friends in the process, tearing Nizam’s shirt pocket.
The group alerted the Pink Police officers stationed nearby, who in turn contacted officials from Thiruvalla police station. The thief was taken into custody and brought to the station. After Nizam filed his statement, the police registered a case and recovered the stolen phones from the accused.
During interrogation, under the guidance of District Police Chief VG Vinod Kumar, the accused confessed to the crime. Further questioning revealed his involvement in several theft cases registered at police stations in Ernakulam Railway, Aluva, Kottayam Railway, Ernakulam Hill Palace, and Cherthala. Sivaprakash was subsequently produced in court and remanded.
