Thief poses as customer, steals second-hand bike from Mumbai shop

A thief posing as a customer made away with a motorbike belonging to a Grant Road based two-wheeler seller. The accused, identified only as Raju, took the bike on the pretext of a test ride and then fled with the vehicle

A man visits Zak motors to buy a second hand Yamaha. He takes it for a test ride with mechanic Javed Shaikh

A thief posing as a customer made away with a motorbike belonging to a Grant Road based two-wheeler seller. The accused, identified only as Raju, took the bike on the pretext of a test ride and then fled with the vehicle.

According to the police, Raju visited the store called Zak Motors on July 20. The store also deals in second hand bikes. He wanted to buy a second hand Yamaha R15.

When he takes the bike beyond the point permitted for the ride, Javed asks him to take a U-turn. But, he gets pushed off the bike

"The customer, who identified himself as Raju, claimed he works at KTM in Phoenix Mills and expressed his desire for a test drive of the bike," shop owner Wasim Shaikh told mid-day.

Pushed pillion
"As per the rules, I asked our mechanic Javed Shaikh to sit behind him. Raju then started the test ride but he took the vehicle far ahead of the point we had permitted for the test ride," said Wasim.

A fallen Javed then calls the owner, who in turn informs the police. Illustration/Uday Mohite

Javed said, "I asked him to take a U-turn and return to the shop, but he didn't listen and instead increased bike's speed. When we reached near the reservation counter of Mumbai Central railway station he pushed me down from the bike and fled with it." Javed shouted for help, but by then Raju had already disappeared. Javed immediately called the owner, who then informed police.

The Yamaha bike that was stolen

Thief booked
Wasim said, "Generally, we follow some rules while providing a test ride to customers for their satisfaction of verifying the bike's condition. If customers come in a pair, then we ask one to wait at the shop and allow another to go for a ride. If the customer comes alone, then we send our mechanic to ride pillion during the test."

The Nagpada police have registered a case against an unknown person under section 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code. They are scanning the CCTV camera installed near the shop as well as traffic signals from where the accused passed during the test ride.

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