The latest iPhone launch has put new devices in the hands of thousands of buyers across India. But in Greater Noida, a woman’s new iPhone 18 Pro became the target of a street snatching just days after she bought it.
The incident happened on Monday morning, 21 September, in Greater Noida West. The woman, identified as Shubhi Bhandari, was travelling to work in an e-rickshaw when two men on a motorcycle approached her.
What happened next is now part of a police investigation.
What Happened Near Ek Murti?
According to Bhandari’s account, she had taken out her phone to make an online payment for the e-rickshaw ride.
The two men, who were wearing helmets, approached from behind. They initially asked her for an address.
During the interaction, they noticed the phone in her hand and asked whether it was the new iPhone.
Bhandari said yes.
The men then allegedly grabbed the phone from her hand and fled on their motorcycle. The incident took place in the Bisrakh police station area near Ek Murti Gol Chakkar in Greater Noida West.
The phone had reportedly been purchased only three days earlier.
Bhandari’s husband, Saket Gupta, said the device was almost brand new when it was snatched. Reports have put its value at around Rs. 1.64 lakh, corresponding to the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro in India.
Was The Phone Specifically Targeted?
The suspects reportedly noticed the phone, asked whether it was the newly launched model and then took it after Bhandari confirmed that it was.
That sequence suggests that the phone was identified before it was snatched. However, police have not publicly established whether the suspects had specifically planned to target an iPhone 18 Pro or were simply looking for a valuable phone.
The distinction matters because the motive and planning behind the incident are still part of the investigation.
What is established from the complaint and police statements is that the suspects allegedly approached the e-rickshaw, interacted with Bhandari and then fled with her phone.
What Has Police Done So Far?
The family approached Bisrakh police after the incident.
According to local police reports, Bhandari’s father filed an online FIR. The case has been registered under Section 304(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals specifically with snatching.
Under the BNS, snatching covers suddenly, quickly or forcibly grabbing movable property from a person or from their possession. Section 304(2) provides for imprisonment of up to three years and a fine.
Police are examining CCTV footage from the area to trace the motorcycle and identify the two suspects.
Bisrakh police have also been looking at the route taken by the suspects and other available evidence as part of the investigation. No arrest has been reported in the latest updates available on 22 September.
The Bigger Question: How Safe Are High-Value Phones On The Street?
The case has also brought attention to a familiar problem in urban areas: mobile-phone snatching.
The family has raised concerns about the visibility of police patrols on major roads during morning hours. That is a concern expressed by the family and should not be treated as an established finding about policing in the area.
There is also a practical issue for smartphone users. A new, expensive phone can be easy to identify when it is being used openly on a busy road, particularly soon after a major launch.
But the incident does not by itself establish that new iPhones are being systematically targeted in Greater Noida.
For now, the immediate questions are more specific: who were the two motorcycle-borne suspects, where did they go after the snatching, and can the stolen phone be recovered?
Those answers will depend on the ongoing police investigation and CCTV evidence.
TL;DR | News At a Glance
What happened to the iPhone 18 Pro in Greater Noida?
A woman travelling in an e-rickshaw had her newly purchased iPhone 18 Pro allegedly snatched by two motorcycle-borne men.
Where did the incident happen?
The incident took place near Ek Murti Gol Chakkar in Greater Noida West, within the Bisrakh police station area.
Why did the suspects approach her?
They reportedly first asked her for an address and then asked whether the phone she was holding was the new iPhone.
When was the phone bought?
According to her family, the iPhone 18 Pro had been purchased three days before the incident.
What legal action has been taken?
An FIR was registered under Section 304(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with snatching.
What are the police doing now?
Police are examining CCTV footage and other evidence to identify the suspects and trace the motorcycle.
Have the suspects been arrested?
No arrest had been reported in the latest available updates on 22 September 2026.
