Ramit's police complaint (made by way of some suitable boffin) resulted
in the police going to the station the next day and arresting two people
expanding their cellphone collection by the same means as before. They
may not be the same people whom Ramit met, but the indications are that
at least ten people are involved and—as we suspected—this is something
that has been going on for a while.
I wonder if the earlier victims complained to the police. It's hard to
believe that none of them did; so perhaps their complaints arrived too
lown down the police hierarchy to prompt any serious action.
But I hope the cops find every one of the robbers now.