06 May,2026 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
The accused, Mohammed Rais Shamsulla Shah (crouching), in the custody of the Charkop police. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The Charkop police have busted an unusual bike theft racket in Kandivli, where stolen two-wheelers were not sold, but rented out to delivery agents, creating a steady illegal income stream. A 23-year-old accused has been arrested, and five stolen vehicles have been recovered, leading to the detection of five cases registered over the past two years.
The arrested accused, Mohammed Rais Shamsulla Shah, is a resident of Ambujwadi, Malwani, Malad West. Police recovered five stolen two-wheelers, including Honda Activa, Suzuki Access 125, and Honda Shine models, all linked to theft cases registered at Charkop police station.
"Shah comes from a modest background and would assist his father in a laundry business. He reportedly had a strong passion for motorcycles. However, he could not afford to own one," said an investigator from Charkop police station.
Over the last two years, he allegedly stole multiple two-wheelers. Notably, he did not sell any of them, but instead built a small rental network using stolen vehicles, catering to delivery riders looking for low-cost options.
According to police sources, Shah operated a unique theft-cum-rental racket with recurring income that reduced chances of immediate suspicion. Instead of disposing of stolen vehicles, heâ¦
>> Kept the bikes parked near his residence
>> Fitted them with fake number plates to avoid detection
>> Rented them out to personnel linked to online food ordering and delivery platforms
>> Charged Rs 100 to Rs 200 per day per bike
The stolen two-wheelers recovered from the accused
On May 3, police officers on night patrol noticed two boys pushing a suspicious scooter near Bhabrekar Nagar in Charkop. On questioning, they claimed it belonged to their friend, later identified as Shah. An investigating officer said, "The vehicle's registration number was found to be fake via C-Trace verification. A chassis number check confirmed it was a stolen vehicle linked to an earlier case."
The police obtained Shah's mobile number from the duo and called him to the police station. When he failed to appear, officers tracked his location to Ambujwadi and arrested him while he was allegedly attempting to flee. During interrogation, he confessed to multiple thefts, leading to further recoveries.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Sandeep Jadhav, ACP Nita Padvi, and Senior Inspector Vinayak Chauhan. Key team members included PSI Abasaheb Pawar and Police Constable Sudesh Gaikwad. Police are now probing whether Shah acted alone or was part of a larger network supplying stolen vehicles for commercial use. Shah was arrested, and he was produced before the court on Tuesday. He was remanded in police custody.
Police recovered the following stolen two-wheelers:
Honda Activa MH 47 BM 3414
Suzuki Access 125 MH 47 BH 6993
Honda Activa MH 47 R 8237
Honda Shine MH 02 CM 4189
Honda Activa MH 47 S 8232
According to police sources, Shah operated a unique theft-cum-rental racket with recurring income that reduced chances of immediate suspicion. Instead of disposing of stolen vehicles, heâ¦
>> Kept the bikes parked near his residence
>> Fitted them with fake number plates to avoid detection
>> Rented them out to personnel linked to online food ordering and delivery platforms
>> Charged Rs 100 to Rs 200 per day per bike
Rs 100-Rs 200
Daily rent charged by accused
