By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Police arrested a three-member group, including two women, in connection with mobile phone thefts inside the City Court premises in Karachi, officials said on 18 June 2026.
The suspects were identified as Asiya, Fatima and Muhammad Rahim. Police said five mobile phones were recovered from their possession following the arrest.
According to police, the group had been operating inside the court complex and targeting people in crowded areas where visitors, litigants and lawyers gather in large numbers throughout the day. Officers said the suspects would move through busy sections of the court premises and allegedly steal mobile phones from unsuspecting individuals before leaving the area quickly.
Officials described the group as operating in a coordinated manner, with each member allegedly playing a role in identifying targets and carrying out thefts in crowded spaces. Police said the suspects took advantage of the heavy footfall inside the court, where people often remain preoccupied with legal proceedings, meetings and administrative tasks.
The arrests were made after surveillance and routine checks within the court premises, according to police. Officers said the suspects were intercepted during an operation aimed at preventing street crime and theft within sensitive public institutions, including judicial complexes where large crowds are regularly present.
Police added that the recovered mobile phones were taken into custody as evidence and would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities also said efforts were under way to determine whether the group was involved in similar incidents elsewhere in the city.
Following their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody and a case was registered against them. Investigators said further questioning would be conducted to establish the extent of their alleged involvement in mobile phone thefts and to identify any possible links to other individuals operating in the area.
Officials said that theft cases inside crowded public buildings such as courts often involve organised groups who exploit congestion and distractions. They added that targeted operations would continue to prevent such incidents and improve security within public institutions.
Police have not disclosed further details at this stage but said additional developments may emerge as the investigation progresses and statements from the suspects are recorded.
The case remains under investigation.
