Noida woman loses Rs 1.64 lakh iPhone 18 Pro after bike-borne thieves ask if it’s the latest model before snatching it

A woman in Greater Noida West allegedly had her newly purchased iPhone 18 Pro snatched by two bike-borne men who first asked her whether she was carrying the newly launched model, according to a report by India Today.

The incident reportedly occurred when Shubhi Bhandari was travelling to work in an e-rickshaw. She had taken out her phone to make an online payment when two helmeted men riding a motorcycle approached the vehicle from behind.

According to the report, the two men initially spoke to Bhandari and asked for her address. Their attention then turned towards the smartphone in her hand.


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Thieves allegedly asked if it was the new iPhone

The suspects reportedly asked Bhandari whether the phone she was carrying was the new iPhone. After she confirmed that it was, the two men allegedly snatched the device from her hand and fled on their motorcycle.

The incident was particularly distressing for Bhandari’s family because the phone had reportedly been purchased just three days earlier. Her husband, Saket Gupta, said the device was almost brand new when it was stolen.

The circumstances of the alleged theft have also raised concerns for the family, as the suspects appeared to have noticed the expensive smartphone before allegedly targeting it.

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Family raises concerns over police presence

Following the incident, Bhandari’s family approached the police and filed a complaint. They also raised concerns about what they described as limited police visibility on major roads during morning hours, saying this had added to their concerns about phone-snatching and other street crimes in the area.

Police have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from cameras installed in and around the area. Officials are reportedly attempting to identify the two suspects and trace the motorcycle using the available footage and other evidence.