The Pimpri Chinchwad Crime Branch has arrested a vehicle thief and recovered 40 stolen motorcycles worth Rs21.66 lakh from him in Pune.
The primary accused, Ashfaq Pathan (32) from Pathardi, Ahilyanagar district, reportedly traveled to Pimpri Chinchwad and Pune by bus. After conducting reconnaissance, he would steal motorcycles using a master key and ride away with them.
Police said Pathan stored the stolen bikes at a location in Dighi and, along with his accomplice, Mukund Hardas (25) of Jalna, sold the motorcycles in rural areas of different districts.
According to Additional Commissioner Sarang Awad, the duo misled buyers by claiming that the motorcycles had been seized by finance companies, selling them for Rs20,000–Rs25,000 each while promising registration documents later.
The investigation began after a motorcycle was stolen from Nande, Mulshi taluka on March 2, prompting a case at the Bavdhan Police Station. Using CCTV footage from over 100 cameras, police traced Pathan to Pathardi and apprehended him in Balewadi on March 7.
During interrogation, Pathan admitted to stealing motorcycles from Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune city, Pune Rural, Jalna, and Parbhani over the past two years. Police noted he targeted motorcycles with good mileage that were easy to steal using a master key.
Authorities also confirmed that Ashfaq Pathan has 10 prior vehicle theft cases registered against him with the Ahilyanagar Police.
