Surat Police Crack Amazon Parcel Theft Case, 4 held

Surat | Gujarat — In a shocking breach of trust, three delivery boys of an Amazon courier service in Surat have been caught stealing mobile phones and tablets from customer parcels they were entrusted to deliver. The Athwalines police have arrested four men involved in the theft racket and recovered 11 stolen mobile phones/tablets worth ₹2.32 lakh and a tempo valued at ₹60,000, bringing the total seizure to ₹2.92 lakh.

The investigation revealed that the accused took advantage of their insider positions within the courier chain, meticulously identifying and stealing parcels containing expensive electronic items.

“The accused were delivery staff — people meant to deliver trust. Instead, they delivered crime,” said an officer from the Athwalines police station. “They opened parcels during handling and transit, removed the gadgets, and resealed them so cleverly that the thefts initially went unnoticed.”

The Crime Unfolds

The case came to light after Rajesh Brij Bihari Agarwal, owner of Current Systems in Nanpura, lodged a complaint. Agarwal had shipped 109 parcels of mobile phones and tablets between April 17 and May 31, 2025, via Amazon’s courier service. However, only 95 parcels reached their destination — 14 went missing.

Smelling something fishy, Agarwal approached the Athwalines police, who soon discovered a well-orchestrated theft ring operating within the courier system.

The Mastermind and His Network

Police identified the mastermind as Mohammad Altaf Ghulam Hussain Sheikh (49), a private company employee who had roped in three Amazon delivery boys — Vyada Kashinath Mistry (20), Ayush Ranjitbhai Patel (20), and Salman Suleman Sheikh (23).

“Altaf Sheikh used his connections with the courier boys to plan the theft. They targeted parcels that were likely to contain mobile phones or tablets,” said the investigating officer. “They would open the boxes en route, steal the contents, and reseal them to avoid suspicion.”

The accused planned to sell the stolen gadgets at throwaway prices in the local grey market to make quick money.

Swift Police Action and Recovery

Acting on a tip-off, police found Altaf Sheikh standing near Jalaram Danachana in Nanpura with a bag full of stolen devices. He was immediately apprehended, and five mobile phones worth ₹1.01 lakh along with a Tata Chhota Hathi tempo valued at ₹60,000 were recovered.

During interrogation, Altaf confessed and named his accomplices. Police then swiftly arrested the remaining three — Mistry, Patel, and Salman Sheikh — and recovered the remaining stolen items:

₹80,000 worth of goods from Mistry

₹15,000 worth from Patel

₹36,000 worth from Salman Sheikh

Justice Delivered, Warning Sent

In total, the police seized 11 devices and one tempo worth ₹2.92 lakh and registered offences against all four accused.

“E-commerce thefts are rising with the growth of online shopping. Such crimes not only hurt businesses but also erode public trust,” a senior police official commented. “Surat police will continue to act decisively against anyone exploiting delivery systems for personal gain.”