Thane police bust bike theft gang, three arrested; 8 stolen motorcycles worth Rs 9 lakh recovered

Kasarvadavli police with accused Milind Manohar Sawant and Bhushan Digambar Puri (kneeling) and eight recovered motorcycles allegedly stolen from Thane and neighbouring areas. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Following a three-month manhunt across Thane and neighbouring regions, the Kasarvadavli police busted a motorcycle theft gang, arresting three men and recovering eight stolen motorcycles worth over Rs 9 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Milind Manohar Sawant, 30; Bhushan Digambar Puri alias Ram Gorakhne, 42, and Sohail Abdul Sheikh, 29. While Sheikh was arrested a few days ago, the other two accused were nabbed on Monday. Police told this newspaper that the alleged mastermind, Sawant, is a history-sheeter with 70-80 criminal cases registered in Mumbai, Thane and Pune.

Recovery racket

A police officer told mid-day, "The accused allegedly used Parivahan records and vehicle registration details to identify owners after stealing the motorcycles. They would then contact owners, posing as ‘good Samaritans' who had found the missing vehicle, and allegedly demand money in exchange for helping recover it." Police further said the accused used online platforms, including OLX, to identify targets and dispose of stolen motorcycles. Further investigation is underway.

CCTV trail

The police team displays seized mobile phones and number plates

A series of similar thefts reported over the past two to three months led the police to suspect an organised gang. Investigators scanned footage from 120-130 CCTV cameras across Dahisar, Mira Road, Ghodbunder Road and Thane. The first breakthrough came after tracing Sheikh, who acted as a receiver of stolen motorcycles. Three bikes were recovered from him. Police then tracked Sawant across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and parts of Konkan before arresting him. Five more motorcycles were then recovered.

Specific targets

The gang targeted Royal Enfield Hunter and Suzuki Burgman motorcycles that were parked without their handle locks. Sawant and an associate would identify vulnerable vehicles, move them to isolated spots, cut ignition wires and ride away. Sawant's experience working at a garage helped him understand technical aspects of motorcycles.

Rs 9 lakh
Total value of the eight recovered motorcycles