24 June,2011 05:55 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
The trio stole 40 two-wheelers from across the city using duplicate keys and sold the vehicles in rural areas at throwaway prices; cops unaware of crimes for over a year
The city police cracked a case and nabbed a gang of three vehicle lifters, who posed as recovery agents and stole 40 two-wheelers and resold them in rural areas. The Vyyalikaval police stumbled upon the accused accidentally, whom upon questioning, confessed to have been active in the past year and made Rs 18 lakh from their activities.u00a0
Screeching halt: The trio, upon questioning, confessed to have been
active in the past year and made Rs 18 lakh from their activities.
Representation pic
The accused were experts at producing duplicate keys and they moved extensively across the city and stole bikes. After committing the act, they headed towards villages, where they sold the spoils of their crime to unsuspecting locals at throwaway prices.
The gang was able to continue their activities without getting caught because the transport authorities and the police rarely conducted checks in these areas. "The accused Bharat Kumar, Kallesh and Madesh used to spend their ill gotten gains on call girls and lived lavishly until the cash lasted, following which they would go on another robbing spree," said Vyyalikaval Police Inspector Mohammed Sharieff.
No checks?
Joint Commissioner of Transport (Enforcement) D Vijay Kumar admitted that these rural areas saw few vehicles checks by his staff. However, he added that there have been instances when the department has accidentally stumbled upon and seized vehicles without valid documents in the area, during random vehicle checks.
He also informed that is no provision from the transport department to conduct regular checks in the rural areas due to lack of staff.
Lack coordination
The transport department is being computerised and all information related to vehicles will be uploaded and made available. "We have also made provision to upload the details of unclaimed vehicles, but as a result of lack of coordination from the police who fail to check with us regularly, a majority of vehicle theft cases go untraced," said a senior officer of the Transport department.
