In a major breakthrough, the Bapatla district police arrested a three-member interstate gang involved in large-scale two-wheeler thefts and recovered 36 stolen motorcycles worth approximately Rs25 lakh.
The gang had been operating across multiple districts in Andhra Pradesh, including Bapatla, Guntur, Nellore, Prakasam, Kurnool, and Krishna, besides committing thefts in Telangana. A total of 17 cases had been registered against them in different jurisdictions.
District Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi lauded the Repalle Sub-Division police teams for their swift and coordinated action in tracking down the accused and recovering the stolen property.
Addressing the media at Bhattiprolu Police Station on Thursday, Repalle DSP Avula Srinivasarao said the investigation began after a recent motorcycle theft complaint. Acting on directives from SP Tushar Dudi to prioritise two-wheeler theft cases, special teams were formed under the leadership of Vemuru CI Pasupaleti Veeranjaneyulu, Repalle Rural CI Suresh Babu, and SIs Shivayya and Anil Kumar of Bhattiprolu and Cherukupalli police stations.
Using CCTV footage and technical surveillance, the teams successfully apprehended the accused on Wednesday. The arrested individuals were identified as Putta Sivasankar from Tenali, Peta Nagababu from Kanagala village in Cherukupalli mandal, and Deepala Teja Venkata Siva Naga Vijay Kumar from Ailavaram in Bhattiprolu mandal.
According to the DSP, the gang stole five motorcycles from Bapatla district, four from Guntur, five from Nellore, six from Prakasam, ten from Krishna, one from Kurnool, two from East Godavari, and three from Telangana State.
Police revealed that the prime accused, Putta Sivasankar, worked as an auto driver and allegedly turned to theft due to financial pressures and personal habits. He reportedly targeted railway stations, bus stands, and cinema halls, using duplicate keys to steal parked motorcycles. The other two accused assisted in hiding and disposing of the stolen vehicles.
SP Tushar Dudi commended the investigative teams for effectively using technical expertise and surveillance methods to dismantle the interstate network and recover the vehicles.
