The Zone-5 Local Crime Branch (LCB) has cracked the sensational theft of 31 brand-new Honda Activa scooters from a two-wheeler showroom warehouse in Nikol, in what was an insider-planned operation.
The theft came to light after the showroom manager lodged a complaint regarding the mysterious disappearance of multiple new scooters from the warehouse. The LCB team arrested two individuals and a juvenile and recovered 26 of 31 stolen Activas worth Rs 25.45 lakh.
Police investigations revealed that the prime accused, Shahid alias Bada Kalu Shaikh (19), a resident of Naroda Patiya, had been working at the showroom's warehouse for nearly seven years. Using his familiarity with the system and access to the premises, Shahid, along with a juvenile accomplice, hatched a plan to steal brand-new scooters from the warehouse.
Instead of executing the theft in one go, the duo systematically removed 31 Activas in phases, ensuring the theft went unnoticed for a significant period.
Police cracked the case with meticulously pieced together CCTV footage and technical surveillance to nab Shahid and Diguraj Rathod (22). The juvenile helped the key accused move the brand new vehicles to Diguraj Rathod's house. The cops have also recovered 26 of the 31 stolen scooters.
Efforts are underway to trace the remaining vehicles and identify the buyers.