Mumbai Police have arrested 18 people, including two women and a minor, after thefts were reported during the huge Ganesh Visarjan crowds in Mumbai on Anant Chaturdashi. Police said 192 mobile phone theft complaints were recorded during the celebrations on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Gold jewellery was also reported stolen from devotees.Key HighlightsPolice arrested 18 people in connection with the thefts.The arrested group includes two women and a minor.As many as 192 mobile theft complaints were reported.Police also recovered stolen phones and gold chains.How Did the Thefts Happen?Large crowds gathered across Mumbai for Ganesh idol immersion. Many devotees came to watch the processions and take part in the celebrations.Police said thieves used the heavy crowd to steal mobile phones and gold jewellery. The thefts were reported at busy places linked to the immersion processions, including areas around the Lalbaugcha Raja procession.Police believe organised groups were involved in some of the thefts. Investigators are checking whether more people were part of the groups.How Many People Were Arrested?Mumbai Police arrested 18 accused in connection with the theft cases. The group includes two women and one minor, according to police information reported by IANS and local reports.Police teams worked in crowded areas and used plain-clothes officers to identify suspected thieves. CCTV footage is also being checked as part of the investigation.Police have also started looking for other people who may have been involved.“Police have arrested 18 accused, including two women and a minor,” police said.What Did Police Recover?Police recovered 14 smartphones and seven gold chains from the accused in the wider theft investigation, according to a local report. Officers are still working to find more stolen items.The police are also using the CEIR system to track stolen mobile phones through their IMEI numbers. CCTV footage is being checked to identify more suspects and trace the stolen property.Why Was the Crowd a Challenge?Ganesh Visarjan brings very large crowds to Mumbai streets. Devotees often stand close together during the processions. Such crowds can make it hard for people to notice when a phone or chain is taken.At Girgaon Chowpatty, police used around 100 CCTV cameras, three drones and AI-based surveillance during the immersion. A separate report said 162 mobile phones were reported stolen there, while seven people were arrested in those cases.The investigation into the wider Mumbai theft cases is continuing. Police are checking CCTV footage and searching for other suspects.Also Read : Hooghly Gold trader and wife robbed after bike-borne men open fire in Dankuni
