Ludhiana: A local shopkeeper in Punjab's Ludhiana district suffered injuries after being dragged for approximately 15 metres while trying to stop a thief who had snatched an expensive smartphone from his store. The dramatic sequence was caught on security cameras and shows the shopkeeper refusing to let go of the escaping vehicle until the rider crashed.
The store owner, identified as Meet, explained that the suspect initially visited the establishment earlier in the day at around 11 in the morning to ask about purchasing an iPhone through installment plans. The individual left the premises after the initial inquiry and returned later in the afternoon at about 2:55 pm, pretending to inspect the devices once more.
During the second visit, the man suddenly grabbed an iPhone 17 Pro Max, concealed it inside his shirt, and sprinted out of the shop toward a waiting scooter parked outside. Reacting instantly, Meet gave chase and managed to grab the rear carrier of the scooter in a desperate bid to halt the getaway.
Rather than stopping, the rider accelerated the vehicle, dragging the shopkeeper along the asphalt for 10 to 15 metres. Meet maintained his grip despite the danger until the driver lost balance and crashed the scooter. The suspect then dropped the stolen iPhone and the vehicle at the location before running away on foot.
Meet noted that several nearby merchants watched the chase unfold but did not intervene to assist him. He sustained severe scrapes on his knees during the ordeal. Authorities are expected to use the recovered CCTV footage to identify and track down the suspect as the investigation proceeds.