156 held, 230 stolen vehicles seized in Thane since Aug.

Police get insight into thieves’ working

The arrests helped the police solve 207 motor vehicle theft cases registered in Thane this year.

In a sustained operation to combat the rising number of motor vehicle thefts in Thane, the police have arrested 156 people and seized 230 stolen vehicles between August and October this year. The police said the operation has also provided vital insights into the highly organised and widespread network of vehicle thieves.

According to the Thane police, those arrested include people who allegedly performed a variety of roles, including scouting the city for potential targets, making duplicate keys, stealing the vehicles, changing the engine and chassis numbers, and acting as middlemen in the resale of the vehicles.

Officials said the operation was jointly undertaken in August between the Crime Branch and the city police, with personnel from all police stations and units pitching in. “We had several units patrolling all the spots where a high number of vehicle thefts were reported and some of the accused were caught red-handed over a span of two to three weeks. Their interrogation led us to the other accused over the last one-and-a-half month,” a Thane Police officer said. The officer said all the accused belong to different gangs and their arrest has helped solve around 207 motor vehicle theft cases registered in Thane this year.

“Some among the arrested accused operate independently. We have started the process of tracing the owners of the stolen vehicles so that they can reclaim their vehicles after producing the requisite documents. The process might prove to be challenging, however, as the engine and chassis numbers of some of the vehicles have been scratched off,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Deoraj, Thane Crime Branch said.

Different methods

Police sources said the vehicles were stolen for a variety of reasons.

An officer said, “Some gangs steal four-wheelers to sell them to clients based in other States. These vehicles are stolen ‘as-per-order’, with separate gangs collecting the orders and conveying them to the thieves. Once the vehicles are stolen, they are taken to garages involved in the rackets. They are repainted, their engine and chassis numbers are scratched off, and they get different number plates before being sold to clients.”

Meanwhile, other gangs steal two-wheelers for a quick buck or to provide them to gangs that need expendable getaway vehicles in robberies or chain-snatchings, officers said.