Mumbai garage owner held for theft; 35 vehicles seized

Mumbai: Police have arrested a 58-year-old mechanic for allegedly stealing motorcycles of popular brands from Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, an official said on Thursday.

The police have so far recovered 35 motorcycles that he had stolen, and are trying to trace 15 others, he said.

The accused, a resident of suburban Vikhroli in Mumbai, runs a motor garage in Ghatkopar area of the city. He had been externed from Navi Mumbai and Thane for two years.

46 offences registered against arrestee

There were 46 offences registered against him at various police stations, including Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, Andheri, Powai in Mumbai, and Kasarwadavali in Thane, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vivek Pansare said.

"In view of the increasing thefts of two-wheelers from the region, the police had stepped up patrolling. Recently, a police patrol team found a man moving in a suspicious manner in Navi Mumbai's Rabale area. They stopped him and found him carrying a bag with keys of motorcycles, screwdrivers, cutters and spanners inside," he said.

Garage owner was habitual offender: Cops

Interrogation of the man revealed that he was a habitual offender, who regularly indulged in motorcycle thefts, the official said.

"The police seized as many as 27 motorcycles from his possession and also recovered eight others that he had stolen and later abandoned. The police are trying to recover 15 more motorcycles that he admitted to have stolen," Pansare added.

The accused used to steal vehicles using duplicate keys and then change the engine, engine plate, and chassis of those motorcycles with the ones that came to his garage for repair. He would then sell such vehicles. Sometimes, he would also sell the spare parts to the scrap dealers, he said.