‘Darpan’ helps cop nab thief

Hyderabad: Darpan, the facial recognition software, used by the Telangana state police has helped in apprehending a man who was stealing mobile phones from working women’s hostels in the IT corridor.

The accused. K. .Santhosh Yadav, 23, used to make phone calls to the women using the numbers in the stolen phones.

Madhapur DCP A. Venkateshwar Rao said that Yadav, a resident of Shaikpet and native of Darasawardi in Karnataka, was working as an office boy at a firm.

He targeted hostels located in Gachibowli and Raidurgam, entering them when  it was possible and stealing mobile phones. He would also steal two-wheelers.

“After stealing the phones, Yadav made calls to the women from the stolen phones and spoke in an indecent manner. His prime time was between 2 am and 4 am. He would go to hostels with more windows from which he could steal phones and laptops,” the DCP said.

Mr Venkateshwar Rao said that Yadav was earlier arrested in eight cases in the city. When the police received complaints of phones being stolen, officials ran the Darpan face recognition software on the CCTV footage. This helped them identify Yadav, cameras, the images of the suspect were collected and using the Darpan, facial recognition who had earlier been booked under the Preventive Detention Act during 2017.

The accused was apprehended near Mehfil Hotel in Raidurgam and questioned. He confessed to having committed 13 thefts including those of parked two-wheelers. On his confession, 25 mobile phones and three bikes were recovered.
and he was produced before a court for judicial remand, Mr Venkateshwar Rao said.