The Pune Police’s Crime Branch arrested a habitual motorcycle thief and seized 25 stolen two-wheelers worth Rs10 lakh on Friday.
The accused has been identified as Shankar Bharat Devkule (32), a resident of Memane Vasti, Uruli Devachi.
According to the police, a case of vehicle theft had been registered at Parvati Police Station. During the investigation, following the CCTV footage, Devkule was identified, who was already listed as a habitual vehicle thief in police records. Following the technical analysis, Devkule was arrested from Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur.
ACP Ganesh Ingale informed that Devkule had been stealing motorcycles across Pune city since his release from prison five months ago. He used to remove the number plates of the stolen vehicles and hand them over to his acquaintance, garage owner Aniket Kudale (27), a resident of Kharadi.
The stolen bikes were either stored at his friend's place in Tuljapur or sold without proper documentation. So far, 25 stolen two-wheelers have been recovered, linked to 18 registered theft cases, with investigations ongoing to trace the owners of the remaining vehicles.
50 theft cases against accused
Moreover, more than 50 theft cases have been registered against Devkule in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerates.
Highlighting Devkule’s modus operandi, officials informed that he targeted motorcycles parked near metro stations and public places, especially those with old locking systems. He used duplicate keys to steal these vehicles and was selling them, presenting himself as a worker in a finance company repossessing defaulted vehicles.
Kudale used to change the chassis number and engine number with the help of grinder machines.
The investigation is underway, another involved people will be arrested soon.
