Man who single-handedly stole 132 bikes in police net

Pune: The city crime branch on Wednesday claimed to have solved at least 132 two-wheeler theft cases following the arrest of a 33-year-old man from Ozarde village in Maval taluka. All the bikes were stolen in the last three years. Police have recovered 64 two-wheelers, worth Rs 25.30 lakh, from the people to whom the suspect, Santosh Shivram Ghare, had sold the vehicles.

A team headed by assistant commissioner of police (crime) Suresh Bhosale arrested Ghare. The team included inspector Satish Nikam and assistant inspector Ansar Shaikh. A patrolling team of the crime branch had on October 19 intercepted Ghare at Hinjewadi and asked for the documents of the motorcycle he was riding then. However, Ghare could not furnish the vehicle's documents and resorted to evasive replies. The team then detained Ghare on suspicion and during interrogation, found that he had stolen the motorcycle from a place in Hinjewadi.

The team later subjected Ghare to some intense questioning during which he confessed to have stolen as many as 132 two-wheelers from different parts of the city in the last three years. "Ghare also gave the names of the people to whom he had sold the vehicles," Bhosale added.

Bhosale said Ghare was earlier arrested in 2003 when six stolen two-wheelers were recovered from his possession. After that, Ghare, who has passed SSC examination, had managed to stay off the police's radar.

Explaining Ghare's modus operandi, Bhosale said Ghare would steal the motorcycles parked on crowded roads in Deccan, Hinjewadi, Shivajinagar, Vishrambaug, Wakad, Hadapsar, Nigdi, Dhankawdi, Pimpri, Sangvi, Talegaon Dabhade, Kamshet, Dehu Road, Vadgaon Maval and Khandala areas. He would unlock the vehicles with the help of a master key. Interestingly, Ghare also stole a bike during his visit to Udgir in Latur district. Ghare took the policemen to all the places from where he had stolen the two-wheelers.

Ghare used to sell the stolen motorcycles to labourers working at construction sites. He used to visit various labour camps for the purpose. "To convince his buyers, Ghare would tell them that his mother or sister was ill and that he needed money for their medical expenses. He sold the bikes at throw away prices ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,500. He used to promise to hand over the documents of the vehicles to the buyers, but never gave them," Bhosale said.