A woman's brand new iPhone 18 Pro became the unfortunate target of a street snatching in Greater Noida just days after she purchased it. On Monday morning, September 21st, Shubhi Bhandari was traveling to work in an e-rickshaw when two men on a motorcycle approached her from behind. What started as a casual conversation quickly turned into a crime that's now under police investigation.
According to Bhandari's account, she'd taken out her phone to make an online payment for the ride when the two helmet-wearing men asked her for an address. That's when they spotted her iPhone 18 Pro and specifically asked if it was the newly launched model. The moment she confirmed it was, they allegedly grabbed the phone right out of her hand and sped away on their motorcycle. The device, purchased just three days earlier, was valued at approximately Rs 1.64 lakh, matching the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro in India.
What makes this incident particularly striking is the sequence of events. The suspects appeared to have identified the phone as a new iPhone before snatching it, which raises questions about whether it was deliberately targeted or simply recognized as a valuable device. However, police haven't yet determined if the two men specifically planned to target an iPhone 18 Pro or were just opportunistically hunting for any high-value phone.
The Bisrakh police registered the case under Section 304(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with snatching and carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment and fines. Investigators are currently examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the motorcycle and track down the suspects. No arrests have been reported so far.
Beyond the immediate investigation, the incident highlights a broader concern for smartphone users in urban areas. Expensive, newly launched phones are particularly vulnerable when used openly on busy roads, especially in the days immediately following their release. While this single case doesn't prove iPhones are being systematically targeted in Greater Noida, it does serve as a cautionary reminder for those carrying premium devices in public spaces.
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