Bengaluru: A 10-day undercover operation by the Vidhana Soudha Police has led to the arrest of two alleged members of a pickpocketing gang that targeted commuters on crowded Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses.

Disguised as ordinary office-goers, plainclothes police officers travelled daily on busy bus routes from Shivajinagar, Pulakeshinagar and Benson Town, blending in with commuters while keeping a close watch on suspected offenders.

Operation launched after multiple thefts

The covert operation was initiated after three pickpocketing cases were reported earlier this month. In two incidents, commuters lost their mobile phones during peak-hour travel, while in another case, 84-year-old pensioner Narasimhaiah K lost ₹35,000 he had withdrawn from a bank for his monthly expenses.

Investigators found that the gang mainly targeted overcrowded buses travelling towards the city centre, particularly on routes connecting Shivajinagar and nearby eastern localities with Bengaluru’s central business district.

Undercover strategy leads to arrests

A four-member special team, constituted by DCP (Central) Akshay Machindra Hakay, analysed CCTV footage from the affected buses and prepared facial sketches based on surveillance footage and victims’ descriptions.

Instead of conducting routine inspections, officers travelled undercover on identified BMTC routes for over 10 days. Their patience paid off when one officer recognised two suspects matching the sketches boarding a crowded bus near Shivajinagar.

The duo—55-year-old Anwar Pasha of JJ Nagar and 30-year-old Mubarak of Kengeri—were arrested without causing panic among passengers.

Gang used distraction techniques

During interrogation, police said the accused revealed several methods used to steal valuables. One common tactic involved targeting passengers preparing to get off at crowded bus stops, where pushing and jostling created opportunities to steal wallets and mobile phones.

Police also said the gang employed diversion tactics, including one member pretending to vomit through a bus window to distract passengers while an accomplice stole valuables from unsuspecting commuters.

Police suspect more members of the gang remain at large, and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them.