The Porvorim Police Station has successfully uncovered a series of motorcycle and auto thefts in the PDA Colony area of Porvorim and other parts of North Goa, leading to the arrest of one individual and the recovery of stolen property worth around Rs 4 lakh.
According to SP North, Akshat Kaushal, the police registered an FIR following a complaint from Saurabh, a resident of Alto Porvorim. Saurabh reported the theft of his Royal Enfield Himalayan (registration GA 04 P 5100) valued at Rs 1.5 lakh on January 19 in the PDA Colony area.
After filing the FIR, Porvorim PI Rahul Parab formed a specialized team to investigate the case. Using CCTV footage and intelligence gathering, the team tracked down and arrested 19-year-old Lalit Vaigankar from Sodiem, Siolim. The stolen Royal Enfield Himalayan was recovered in Porvorim, along with a KTM Duke that had been stolen from Mapusa.
During questioning, Vaigankar confessed to his involvement with others in the theft of an Aprilia scooter from Assonora (within the jurisdiction of Colvale Police Station). The scooter was subsequently recovered. Additionally, a Yamaha motorcycle, stolen from Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, was also retrieved.
The police are now on the lookout for two more suspects linked to the thefts.
According to the authorities, the accused confessed to being drug addicts who stole motorcycles and autos to sell them at a low price in Belgaum, using the money to buy drugs. Vaigankar and his associates are history-sheeters who had previously bonded in lockups during past petty crimes and have since formed a larger syndicate.
The investigation further revealed that Vaigankar was also involved in a temple theft in Moira, under the jurisdiction of the Mapusa Police Station. A 17-year-old minor, originally from Maharashtra and residing in Mapusa, has been identified as an accomplice.
The investigation continues under the leadership of PI Rahul Parab, PSI Arun Shirodkar, and PSI Sachin Shirodkar, with supervision from Vishwesh Karpe, SDPO Porvorim, and SP North Akshat Kaushal.
