[balenoed_]

In a daring incident of highway robbery, a gang hijacked a truck carrying mobile phones worth Rs 15 crore in Krishnagiri district (Tamil Nadu).

It is shocking that filmy incidents like this still happens. Also surprising is they managed to sneak away with a container load of cell phones in probably a couple of cars (?) which they came in and on the busy Chennai-Bangalore highway.

Would be quite a task for them to encash these thousands of cell phones. Is this plot worth it?

https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu...ellphones-.vpf

[GrandTourer]

This is real life Fast and Furious
Isn't the BLR - CHE highway quite busy through Krishnagiri? It's surprising that could get away with the loot.

[Tachyonites]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Also surprising is they managed to sneak away with a container load of cell phones in probably a couple of cars (?) which they came in and on the busy Chennai-Bangalore highway.

There are a lot of robberies these days on highways even in broad daylight.
We should be vigilant enough to avoid being robbed by these people.
The only question in my mind was, how did they sneak with a couple of cars?
Really sad to read this news and how our Indian roads are becoming a house for robbers.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by GrandTourer

This is real life Fast and Furious

Read the news and it reminded me of the famous scenes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I353MuzAwo

Using IMEI numbers, it should be very simple to track the phones & how / where they were moved.

[wildsdi5530]

A noob question for all - Why are mobile phones transported in a climate controlled truck? These trucks are used for transporting meat, fish, medicines, etc., aren't they??
Also will the IMIE of the phones in the Shipment not be recorded with the manufacturer? And the E-way bill be proof of transport?

[cooldude1988765]

Originally Posted by wildsdi5530

A noob question for all - Why are mobile phones transported in a climate controlled truck? These trucks are used for transporting meat, fish, medicines, etc., aren't they??
Also will the IMIE of the phones in the Shipment not be recorded with the manufacturer? And the E-way bill be proof of transport?

The truck might be on a return journey after transporting perishables.
Many times we have got our goods (non perishable) in an AC truck.

I believe IMEIs are pretty easy to change if you have the know how.

[Cyborg]

Since they have taken so much trouble, this may be linked to some illegal activity by a well organised gang. The IMEI number can be changed and the phones will probably go underground for some time. Then possibly to some other country/city to be used in nefarious activities or sold normally.

https://www.gadgetsnow.com/faqs/can-...w/76934698.cms

Cheers

[sagarpadaki]

Changing the IMEI is doable. But doing it on such large scale is time consuming. Mostly, these would be sold as unboxed second hand phones on olx and likes after changing the IMEI. The manufacturer would anyway block all the IMEI of the phones

Also, selling so many phones through grey channels would be slow. Phones get outdated fast. No one would be willing to buy an year old model if it takes long time to liquidate the stolen phone!

[Akib Khan]

Originally Posted by GTO

Using IMEI numbers, it should be very simple to track the phones & how / where they were moved.

India has a huge market for mobile sare parts just like our cars.
I don't think the thieves who have pulled off such a daring stunt will be stupid enough to sell the mobiles as it it.
The mobile repair market thrives on such stolen phones which are disassembled and parts are used to repair damaged phones which will be impossible to trace.

[RM Motorsports]

There have also been robberies reported recently at Torangan Ghat.

The Jawhar-Nashik road is ridden with potholes and has many blind turns, making it ideal for robbers who also target trucks & tourist vehicles.

Robbers hide behind trees and thick bushes along the serpentine road, and loot goods trucks and tourist vehicles after pelting stones at them, forcing drivers to stop. Vehicles that slow down due to the inclines are also looted.

https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mum...-ghat/23052293

[SideView]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

In a daring incident of highway robbery, a gang hijacked a truck carrying mobile phones worth Rs 15 crore in Krishnagiri district (Tamil Nadu).

It is shocking that filmy incidents like this still happens. Also surprising is they managed to sneak away with a container load of cell phones in probably a couple of cars (?)

For sure some insider hand is at play here, how else would they it is phones in what is essentially a “meat” truck.

Originally Posted by GTO

Read the news and it reminded me of the famous scenes:

Using IMEI numbers, it should be very simple to track the phones & how / where they were moved.

Coincidence that the truck is of the same colour.

[nitishk]

Lot of places for the phones to end up:

1) African countries

2) South America

They could also end up in Amazon/Flipkart for a 10% discount , all they need to do is change IMEI and print new stickers. Not rocket science there.

I once had a guy walk into my office trying to sell iphones taken out of the customs illegally. Googled imei, turned out it was an android knock off and the price of the phone suddenly came down from 35k to 3.5k

[aargee]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Attachment 2070734

Shoots!! This is the place I've ridden, driven during all possible time of the day & night nearly 1.5 decade!! Can't believe such a daring robbery to happen at this spot

[Guna]

I think the phone manufacturers can disable these sets using IMEI. But the unsuspecting buyers may be the losers.

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by Guna

I think the phone manufacturers can disable these sets using IMEI. But the unsuspecting buyers may be the losers.

They need to provide the IMEI to the operators to do so. Not sure if we have a centralized registry for all operators in India.

Read in one newspaper that they made the truck appear broken down and transferred the contents which were in boxes to another vehicle. Normally see this kind of transfer happening on roads. So should be unsuspecting for anyone who sees such thing.