New trend of on-demand bike thefts emerges

A new trend of bike thefts seems to be emerging in Thane, wherein the thieves — instead of stealing the vehicles first and then selling them — are first taking orders from customers for bikes, based on the latter’s preference, and then stealing the same from unsuspecting owners.

The sleuths of the Thane (rural) police are on the lookout for a gang of such bike thieves, which has apparently reversed the process by contacting clients and middlemen first and then stealing bikes based on their specifications.

The trend came to light after the Naya Nagar police took Syed Arshmuddin, a 20-year-old collegian, into custody after he was caught zooming around in Mira Road on a stolen bike.

The mastermind of the racket (name withheld) and his accomplices are still at large, however.

The police believe that the thieves have a full-fledged marketing team in place, which works towards executing tailor-made thefts as per the motorbike models that prospective customers prefer.

The thieves would first steal a two-wheeler and then, before selling it at a throwaway price, modify the bike by changing its colour, number plate and silencer, making it virtually impossible even for its original owner to recognise his own vehicle.

“We are on the trail of the bike thieves and are confident of apprehending them soon,” said an investigating officer from the Naya Nagar police station. A lack of coordination between the RTOs in various states, however, remains a major boost for auto thieves.