Two-wheeler owners complain of rise in petrol thefts in upscale areas

MYSURU: Amid surging petrol prices, Mysuru is also seeing a rise in petrol theft from motorcycles.
Recently, miscreants had removed petrol from around six bikes parked in front of houses in Kuvempunagar. Civil contractor K Kumar said that he had parked his two-wheeler in front of his friend's house in Kuvempunagar. "When I came out of the house after half-an-hour, I saw that the fuel pipe was cut with a blade or knife and petrol stolen. I had to replace a new fuel pipe," he said.

To prevent such thefts, some bike owners are getting their two-wheelers fitted with petrol locks.

Avi Auto Works owner Avinash says he is seeing a steady request for new fuel pipes from bike owners. "Two-wheeler owners who visit my garage complain of petrol theft. Even though some of them have installed fuel locks systems in their bikes, miscreants open the lock with a spanner and pilfer petrol," Avinash adds.

Several of the cases have been brought to the notice of police, but tracing the miscreants is a challenge. A police officer said that most of the miscreants involved in such thefts are youths. "They are either students or unemployed and need money for small expenses. They search for bikes parked outside houses, apartments, parking lanes or in remote places," explains the officer.

Modus operandi

The miscreants cut the fuel pipe and draw the petrol to an empty one-litre water bottle. In some cases, they cut the fuel pipe, leave the empty bottle to fill while they watch from a distance. "If the bike owner returns, the miscreants slink away. It is difficult to track them as they target bikes which are away from main roads," said the officer.