The officials on Wednesday said that the police returned 347 mobile phones stolen from central Mumbai areas in 2022 to their rightful owners, reported news agency PTI.

The phones, collectively worth Rs 56 lakh, were stolen from the jurisdictions of six police stations, including Sion, Bhoiwada, Matunga, Antop Hill, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, and Wadala Truck Terminus, reported PTI.

Police had formed various teams to nab the accused persons and dispatched personnel to various states, the official said.

Car thief involved in 70 cases arrested

In another case, Mumbai Police arrested a 35-year-old man, allegedly involved in more than 70 cases of stealing cars and accessories registered against him in Gujarat and Maharashtra, an official said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The accused is identified as Junaid Yunus Shaikh alias Bambaiyya, a resident of Khar, reported PTI.

His interrogation in connection with a car theft case in Wadala revealed his criminal past, officials added.

Shaikh was involved in more than 70 cases of stealing cars and accessories registered against him in Gujarat and Maharashtra, reported PTI.

Police had examined the footage of over 150 CCTV cameras installed in Wadala to identify the accused who had stolen a Honda City car parked at Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg.

Mumbai cops foil bid to sell illegal firearms; five held with pistols and bullets

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police`s Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) has arrested five men, originally from Haryana, when they were allegedly trying to sell country-made firearms in the Maharashtra capital, leading to the seizure of three pistols and 51 bullets, officials said on Wednesday, reported PTI.

The magazines seized from the gang on Tuesday evening near Cotton Green railway station bear the Made in USA and Made in Italy imprints.

Police claimed that the accused individuals, identified as Sunny Nareshkumar (26), Ravi Angrez (23), Rahul Prithvi Singh (27), Anuj Kuldeep Kumar (28), and Aditya Kaushik (23), admitted that they had come to Mumbai to sell the weapons, reported PTI.

A case was registered under the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Police Act.

Meanwhile, fraudsters have duped a woman in Mumbai of Rs 8 lakh after promising to give her Rs 6 lakh each for a Rs 100 currency note with `786` serial number and a coin of 25 paise with the image of a single-horn rhinoceros, police said.

(With inputs from PTI)

Source