As a police informer, Ayub Shaikh alias Guddu, 36, would stay close to the cops, but only so he could keep their gaze far from his own car thefts. Ironically, it was another khabri who blew the lid off his racket, resulting in his arrest on August 3.

This is the second time Guddu, 36, has been arrested because of an informer's tip-off. During interrogation, Guddu revealed that he used to be an informer the anti-Motor vehicle (MV) theft unit from 2010 till 2013, when the cops realised he was stealing vehicles right under their nose, even as he helped them catch his rivals. Officers who questioned him said he began as an electrician and slowly got in touch with vehicle theft gangs. He worked for several gangs over the years. "He is an expert in breaking into cars," said Inspector Dheeraj Koli.