The cellphones that were recovered. Telegraph picture

Patna, Feb. 16: Three boys, accused of stealing cellphones from the purses of women passengers, were arrested at Patna Junction today.

The three are residents of Patna. Ramakant Prasad, Government Railway Police (GRP) inspector, said: “The boys were arrested this afternoon when one of them was trying to steal a cellphone from a purse of a woman passenger at platform number three of Patna Junction.”

So far, they have stolen more than 50 cellphones.

He added: “It was difficult for us to catch them. Being twins, two of the three arrested took advantage and when we would catch one, he would say that it was his brother who steals. We had to release him, as we could not prove who the real thief was. However, this time we nabbed them as they were wearing different clothes and we could identify them.”

He said: “Among the three, two are experts in the art of stealing cellphones from ladies’ purses. Once decided, one of the trio would follow their target and signal, the third would then go and sit beside the woman. Catching the woman unawares, one of them would steal the mobile and the other later closed the chain of the purse.”

GRP has recovered four mobile phones worth Rs 35,000 from them.

A few packets of razors were also seized from them. Prasad said: “We asked them from whom did they get training, they said it was their aunt who had trained them.”

Prasad said: “One is the helping hand and they intentionally target long-distance train passengers because short-distance passengers are from Patna, who are aware of this modus operandi and stay cautious.”

He added: “The boys targeted long-distance passengers because they would just lodge a complaint and avoid being involved in quarrels.”