In a major crackdown on vehicle theft, the Crime Branch’s Unit 5 has apprehended four individuals from Tumsar, Bhandara, who were involved in stealing motorcycles for joyrides. The police have recovered 62 stolen two-wheelers worth ₹19.70 lakh.
The investigation began after an Activa moped (MH-40/VY-7405) and a Hero Honda motorcycle (MH-40/VD-2665) were stolen from Yashodharanagar police limits. During a parallel probe, law enforcement analyzed CCTV footage from 200 locations, identifying a suspect near Maharajbagh Square. On February 21, officers set a trap and arrested him while he attempted to flee.
The suspect, Akash Kishor Khobragade (25), confessed to stealing motorcycles over the past seven months using master keys. His associates, Akash Sampatlal Parateki (27) and Mayank alias Kish Vinod Barik (19), were also taken into custody. Investigations revealed that the stolen vehicles were sold to a repair shop in Tumsar, owned by Deepak Dwarakaprasad Vijande (24) and his brother Vijay alias Golu Vijande (34).
The gang primarily targeted motorcycles parked in crowded areas, favoring Splendor bikes due to their high resale value. They tampered with chassis numbers, altered the bikes’ appearance, and resold them, using the proceeds for online gambling and betting.
Authorities have seized 62 motorcycles, four mobile phones, vehicle keys, and master keys, amounting to a total recovery of ₹20.45 lakh. The accused are linked to 38 theft cases in Nagpur, 11 in rural areas like Ramtek and Kanhan, and several others across Madhya Pradesh, Bhandara, and Gondia.
Further investigations are underway to trace additional stolen vehicles and identify more accomplices in the racket.
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