South Division police arrested a gang of three from Tamil Nadu and recovered stolen high-end motorbikes worth Rs 20 lakh.
Police picked up Munneer Pasha (20), Mohammed Mujahid (25) and Mohan (19), all from Vaniyambadi and Ambur in Tamil Nadu. The gang used to come to the city by bus and recce select places to identify expensive bikes parked outside offices and houses. Further on, they would steal the motorcycles using duplicate keys and ride back to their hometown where they would sell the bikes after changing the registration number plates.
Using this modus operandi, the accused were operating in the city over the last one year.
Based on increasing instances of bike thefts, the VV Puram police formed special teams and conducted random vehicle checks, especially at nights.
On February 4, the police on duty, noticed three individuals riding bikes heading towards the VV Puram junction. The police team flagged down the bikes for a random inspection, when two persons fled the scene. Police managed to nab a rider.
Detailed questioning of the captured rider led to the arrest of two others. Subsequently, the police recovered 17 bikes. The accused were booked for theft, produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody
Chain snatchers
Meanwhile, the South division police have arrested two interstate chain snatchers and recovered gold worth Rs 40 lakh from them. Arun Kumar (33) and Karthik (30) from Tamil Nadu used to steal two-wheelers and committed chain snatchings using the bikes. They used to take the bikes to Tamil Nadu, change the registration plates and commit crimes at Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and in Baragur, the police said.
The duo would target lone women and rob their gold chains. The booty would be then handed over to their respective wives who would approach one Jayakumar from Doddabommasandra, who purchased the valuables from them. They committed crimes in Kempegowdanagar, Hanumanthanagar, CK Achukattu, JP Nagar, Kumaraswamy Layout, Konanakunte, and Siddapura. Around 35 gold chains weighing 1.2 kg along with two bikes were recovered by the police who detected a total of 37 cases against the two in South Division.