• Specialized gang that relied on digital tools arrested
• Seizure of weapons, jewelry, and other tools during police raid

Security authorities in the Indian state of Jharkhand have arrested a criminal gang specializing in theft, which used digital mapping applications to identify targets and plan cross‑state escape routes.

Details of the case emerged following a burglary in the Golmuri area of the city of Jamshedpur on September 19.

After the homeowner filed a complaint, police formed a special investigative team that combined CCTV footage, technical intelligence, and mobile phone tracking to determine the suspects’ movements.

Through digital forensics, police were able to locate the suspects in the city of Patna and arrest them during a coordinated raid.

The detainees were identified as: Vikas Kumar (27), Raju Kumar (49), and Mohammad Irfan (26).

During the operation, police seized a firearm, live ammunition, stolen gold jewelry, and tools used for breaking into homes.

Investigators revealed that the gang relied on a highly mobile “hit‑and‑run” strategy: entering a new city, using map applications to select a target, carrying out the theft, then immediately leaving for another state to evade local authorities.

According to the investigation, the gang targeted at least six homes over the past few months using this method.

A senior police officer said: “The suspects were moving between cities in three neighboring states. By using Google Maps, they did not need local accomplices to identify affluent areas or plan escape routes.”

This case highlights a modern criminal trend in which everyday digital tools are exploited to gather information and plan criminal operations.

Experts note that navigation applications have become indispensable for citizens, but some technologically savvy criminals misuse them for illegal purposes, underscoring the need to strengthen digital forensic capabilities within law enforcement agencies.

The three suspects were presented before the court and placed in pretrial detention, while police continue investigations to determine whether the gang is linked to other unresolved burglary cases in the area.

Seized digital devices are being analyzed to map crime patterns and identify previous locations and potential connections involving the suspects.

Police urged residents to remain vigilant and enhance home security measures, including robust locking systems, surveillance cameras, and the prompt reporting of any suspicious activity, stressing that keeping pace with technological developments requires raising the overall level of public security awareness.