Bike thieves held in Arakkonam; nine two-wheelers recovered

Two persons were arrested by Arakkonam Town police near Arakkonam town in Ranipet on Saturday for stealing two-wheelers mostly at public places in Vellore, Ranipet, and Tiruvannamalai districts.

Police said the arrested persons were identified as B. Chandru, 23, and G. Raghavendra, 34. They are residents of Pernambut town near Katpadi in Vellore. Police recovered nine two-wheelers from them.

Initial inquiry revealed that after doing a few odd jobs, the duo started to steal two-wheelers at public places and temple festivals in these districts to evade attention from public and the police. As he previously worked as a helper in a mechanic workshop , Chandra can repair two-wheelers and remove its spare parts.

Based on several complaints especially from affected persons, Ranipet Superintendent of Police (SP), Ayman Jamal, formed special teams to nab the duo. They also analysed CCTV footage on the routes where two-wheelers were stolen at public events.

During surprise vehicle checks, a police team comprising K. Jayakandan and S. Chiranjeevi, sub-inspectors of Arakkonam Town police, stopped the duo, who were in a two-wheeler, on Arakkonam - Sholingur Main Road.

They gave contradictory statements that aroused suspicion of the police. Neither did they show valid documents of the vehicle. They were brought to the police station. 

Police said the duo told them that they target two-wheelers that are parked hurriedly by owners in public places. All two-wheelers belong to the same motorcycle company as they found it easier to resell them in the black market for a high price.

Stolen two-wheelers were kept in thick bushes below a bridge on the stretch before vehicles were sold without documents, mostly to agricultural workers, illegal arrack sellers in adjoining districts.

Each stolen two-wheeler is sold between ₹ 5,000 - ₹ 10,000. A case was registered and later they were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is under way.