Police officials posing as camera buyers managed to apprehend two thieves in Jnanabharathi and recovered 12 cameras worth Rs 15 lakh from them on Friday. The police confirmed that the accused, identified as Sheikh Lukman (27) and Javed (22), would lure studio cameramen with the promise of big assignments and flee with high-end cameras, including Nikon, Canon and Sony cameras.

The police tracked the suspects down after discovering that the accused were using an online portal to sell the stolen cameras. They then decided to pose as camera buyers and called the number listed in the online advertisement. Lukman thought he was negotiating with a buyer and approached the policemen, when a team of officials closed in on him and arrested him, according to a report by the Times of India.

Lukman would initially visit studios to click passport size photos and share his business card claiming that he would bring clients to the studio. “Lukman used to visit the studios on the pretext of getting his photograph made. He then conversed well with them and assured them of giving orders for wedding photography, etc. He used to call them and asked them to come and meet him at some place to talk about the orders. Once they left the studio, he would open the shutter of the studio and committed the thefts in broad daylight. He used to sell the stolen cameras. Ten cameras, two video cameras, lenses and camera charges have been recovered from him,” a police officer told The New Indian Express.