In all, 3,434 motorcycles of different types have been stolen in city in the last five years.
The accused are vagabonds, students, and rag-pickers.
The modus operandi of the accused is to dismantle the vehicles and sell the parts at a lesser price.
While a few of them sell the parts for a meagre price to make pocket money, a few others steal the motorcycle as they are crazy about bike-riding.
The police have busted several robber gangs, and the accused include students, juveniles, rag-pickers, and former convicts. The police have seized 1,573 motorcycles from them, including latest brands.
Motorcycles worth crores of rupees had been stolen in Vijayawada since 2011. The police, during surprise checks, recovered 1,573 two-wheelers. Of them, 711 vehicles were kept in vehicle dumping yard located at the Women Police Station.
The police are trying to identify the owners and hand over the vehicles to them.
In all, 821 motorcycles seized for non-availability of proper documents were also kept in the dumping yard, the police said.
Police Commissioner D. Gautam Sawang has appealed to the two-wheeler owners to use latest gadgets to prevent theft.
Owners can use wheel lock system, which can prevent movement of the wheels and prevent theft of the bike. The disk and oil locking system can be used to stop oil flow into the engine and prevent disks from moving.
Vehicle owners are requested to change the locking system frequently and not to use worn out locks.
Police have also appealed to the vehicle owners not to park the motorcycles on roads, near cinema theatres, temples, and abandoned areas.
Theft can be prevented if vehicles are parked in protected places and on the premises of houses, the police said.
‘Install CC cameras’
Residents are requested to install CCTVs in their colonies and in apartments to prevent theft and to identify thieves.
The public are also requested to alert police by dialling 100 if they observe movement of any stranger or any person moving suspiciously in their locality.
