Mumbai: An autorickshaw driver was arrested in Bhandup on Saturday for stealing at least 15 autorickshaws over a period of six months. Police said he would ply his own autorickshaw by day and identify those of others to steal at night.
The accused, identified as Santosh Patil (45), would keep an eye out for autos parked in the same place for a long time. At the end of the day, he would allegedly steal them after confirming that they were in working condition, and later sell them.
DCP (Zone VII) Sachin Patil said, “Several police stations had received complaints of autos going missing. This had been going on for about six months. The accused was finally nabbed from Bhandup. So far, we have recovered 15 autos.”
Police said Patil was found to be a history-sheeter, with records since 2015. He has cases registered against him Bhandup, Vikhroli, Kurla, Amboli, Vakola, Malad, Nehru Nagar, Kanjurmarg, Vile-Parle and Jogeshwari police stations. “We suspect there were others involved in this racket, but he seems to have been the mastermind,” Mr. Patil said.
Patil has been booked for theft under the IPC. He has been remanded in police custody till July 24, police said.
