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In an unusual case of theft, a 27-year-old man from Assam was arrested for breaking into a mobile phone store in Bengaluru while completely naked except for a face mask. The accused, identified as Imranullah, allegedly stole high end mobile phones of various brands worth over Rs 25 lakhs in what police described as a “bizarre but deliberate” burglary.
The incident took place in the early hours of May 9 at Hanuman Telecom in Hongasandra. According to police, the accused entered the store by crawling through a two-foot-wide hole drilled into the shop’s wall. CCTV footage showed the man navigating the premises using a mobile phone flashlight and selectively picking costlier phones while ignoring lower-priced models.
Investigators said Imranullah was assisted by an accomplice who waited outside the shop. The two had allegedly drilled the hole together, after which Imranullah entered the store carrying only a bag to stash the stolen devices. He later told police that he chose to go in unclothed to avoid damaging his new clothes while squeezing through the narrow opening.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the accused was familiar with the store’s layout and security camera positions, leading police to believe the premises were surveyed in advance. He reportedly told police that he planned to sell the phones in the black market to raise money for gifts for his girlfriend.
The shop owner, Dinesh, who was in Rajasthan due to a family emergency, noticed the break-in around 4 pm the next day while checking the CCTV footage remotely. He alerted a friend, who then informed the police and filed a complaint.
Following a swift investigation, Bengaluru police arrested Imranullah and recovered the stolen phones. Forensic teams have collected additional evidence from the scene, while the search continues for the second person involved in the crime.
A case has been registered under Sections 331 (house-trespass or housebreaking) and 305 (theft in a dwelling or place of worship) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The accused remains in police custody.