---
title: "Mumbai Thieves Used WhatsApp Codes for Pickpocket Syndicate"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/mumbai-pickpocket-gang-uses-whatsapp-codes-0hglu
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Technology
published: 2026-08-11T18:54:21.576Z
modified: 2026-08-11T21:00:12.658Z
language: en-IN
---

# Mumbai Thieves Used WhatsApp Codes for Pickpocket Syndicate

Mumbai police have cracked a pickpocket gang's use of daily-changing WhatsApp codes for operational security. The 'Dhakka gang' used coded messages to confirm safety before executing thefts on public buses.

## Key takeaways

- Mumbai police have busted a pickpocket gang called the ‘Dhakka gang’ that used coded WhatsApp messages.
- The daily changing codes were used to confirm the safety of gang members and decide if thefts could proceed.
- Law enforcement recovered 135 smartphones valued between ₹90,000 and ₹1.5 lakh from the arrested individuals.
- The gang deliberately avoided stealing iPhones due to unlocking difficulties and low black market resale value.

A pickpocket syndicate in Mumbai, known as the ‘Dhakka gang’, utilized a sophisticated system of daily changing WhatsApp codes to coordinate their operations. The codes, disguised as casual phrases, were used to ensure operational security and confirm the safety of gang members before proceeding with thefts.

The gang's methods involved a kingpin sending a unique code each morning via WhatsApp to other members. This communication was primarily to ascertain if any member had been apprehended by law enforcement, rather than to plan the specifics of a theft. Only after receiving an “all-clear” message would the gang select their target, which often involved specific BEST bus routes.

## What Happened

The MIDC Police Station team successfully dismantled the operation by deciphering the gang’s communication system. The investigation, supervised by DCP Datta Nalawade, revealed the gang's reliance on smartphones and a daily rotating code system. Upon the arrest of two gang members in Andheri, the remaining operatives relocated their base to Juinagar in Navi Mumbai.

## Key Facts

- The ‘Dhakka gang’ of pickpockets in Mumbai used daily changing WhatsApp codes.
- Phrases like “uncle sends his regards” and “how is the weather today?” served as coded messages.
- DCP Nalawade stated the codes were used to check if gang members were safe and if it was secure to proceed with theft.
- The gang’s kingpin contacted members daily via WhatsApp with a new code.
- After two members were arrested in Andheri, the gang moved their hideout to Juinagar, Navi Mumbai.
- MIDC police recovered 135 high-value smartphones from the gang.
- The recovered phones ranged in market value from ₹90,000 to ₹1.5 lakh.
- The gang avoided stealing iPhones due to difficulties in unlocking and low resale value in black markets in Bangladesh and Nepal.
- A typical 4- to 5-member team would distract a victim on a BEST bus while one member pickpocketed them.

## Background

The gang employed a specific tactic on public transport, typically comprising 4 to 5 members. A few members would create a diversion by jostling or causing a commotion, allowing the primary member, referred to as the “Machine,” to steal the phone or wallet. After the act, the members would split up, disembarking at different bus stops to evade capture.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/mumbai-pickpocket-gang-uses-whatsapp-codes-0hglu
Reported from: Multiple Sources