Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have nabbed a gang of over five people involved in vehicle theft across the city, recovering 39 stolen vehicles and solving 34 registered cases, officials announced on Saturday.
The crackdown was carried out by a special team formed within Zone 1 of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) to curb rising vehicle thefts.
Those arrested include:
Mubin Noor Muhammad Shaikh (25), Pimple Gurav
Faiz Firoz Shaikh (22), Dhule
Aman Premchand Shukla (19), Pimpri
Sunil Shantaram More (30), Uruli Kanchan
Raju Shankar Marathe (46), Dehu Road
Two minors
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) Sandeep Atole stated that vehicle thefts had surged in areas including Pimpri, Chinchwad, Sant Tukaram Nagar, Bhosari, Dapodi, Nigdi, and Ravet, particularly around metro stations and public areas.
The special team analyzed over 150 CCTV footages from reported stolen vehicles, identified the suspects, and arrested them. During interrogation, the accused confessed to multiple vehicle thefts.
Police recovered a total of 37 two-wheelers and 2 auto rickshaws, valued at approximately Rs 15 lakh. Around five stolen vehicles, including a Bajaj Pulsar, Passion Pro, Royal Enfield Bullet, and two Hero Honda Splendours, are still being traced.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, JCP Dr Shashikant Mahavarkar, Addl CP Sarang Awad, DCP Sandeep Atole, and ACP Sachin Hire, with the special team led by Senior PI Ashok Kadlag and PI Vijayanand Patil, assisted by multiple police officers.
