NEW DELHI, June 11: Delhi police busted a gang of thieves last week and unwittingly unearthed a "school" that taught young boys the art of picking pockets and snatching mobile phones, a newspaper said on Friday.

Located in south Delhi, the school was run by two Sri Lankans who had arrived in the Indian capital 20 years ago, the Hindustan Times reported. The school for boys aged 11 to 15 had been operating for two years and was run like other educational institutions, complete with strict rules.

A student would start by stealing vegetables from shops and graduate to bag lifting and mobile snatching. Instructors would sometimes get the boys arrested to test if they would tell the police about the school, the report said.

"The group members had code words and signs for every situation. They would hunt in a pack; while one person would strike, others would keep vigil," said Praveer Ranjan, a senior police official.

The school had many industrious students including a 15-year-old identified as Hari, who was so good at his work that he was to be made an instructor. But before he could be promoted police nabbed the two teachers, the report said. Police are now trying to round up their class of about 50 students. -AFP