Two-wheeler thief held, 52 vehicles recovered

Tribune News Service
Patiala, April 22

With the arrest of an auto-lifter, who is said to be an expert in stealing Activas, the police claimed to have solved 52 cases of two-wheeler thefts over the past two years. 

As many as 52 two-wheelers, including 25 Activas, 24 motorcycles and scooters, and three cars, were recovered by the police from the suspect. 

The suspect has been identified as Praveen Kumar, alias Dhini, a resident of Malerkotla town, Sangrur district. 

Addressing a press conference here today, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mandeep Singh Sidhu, said the suspect used to sell stolen vehicles in the nearby districts after preparing fake documents. 

The suspect revealed that he had been stealing two-wheelers in Patiala for last two years, said the SSP. 

The suspect used to steal two-wheelers parked outside academic institutions in Chotti Baradari and Leela Bhawan, he added.

The suspect also used take chance if he saw any vehicle parked at isolated spots, he said. 

A case was registered against the suspect on a complaint filed at the Kotwali police station following the theft of two Activas from the Chotti Baradari area.

After recovery of the stolen vehicles, the police added Sections 465, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to the FIR. 

SSP told mediapersons that the suspect was arrested during a secret operation conducted by the city police under Superintendent of Police (SP), City, Harmandeep Hans, and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Yogesh Sharma. 

Investigation was underway to arrest other persons, who helped the suspect in selling stolen vehicles with fake documents, he added.