In a significant breakthrough, the Chikkamagaluru police arrested three individuals involved in a bike theft racket. The police recovered 17 stolen bikes worth over Rs8.5 lakh and Rs2.15 lakh in cash from the accused.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Khayyum from Mallapura, near Hole Honnur in Bhadravathi taluk, Naveen Kumar from Gollenahalli near Belur in Hassan district, and Umer Baig, a scrap merchant from Bhadravathi.
According to police reports, the trio was involved in a series of bike thefts across the region, with stolen motorcycles being sold or disposed of through illegal channels. After a thorough investigation, the police successfully traced the stolen bikes and apprehended the suspects.
The police have seized the 17 stolen bikes and a cash amount of Rs2.15 lakh, which is believed to be the proceeds from the sale of the stolen vehicles. Further investigation is ongoing to identify potential buyers and determine the full scope of the theft ring.
The arrests have been hailed as a major success by local authorities, as the bike theft cases in the area had been on the rise in recent months.