PUNE: Two men trying to steal petrol accidentally set fire to four motorcycles in the parking lot of an unguarded housing society in Pashan in the wee hours of Sunday.
Police said something went wrong when the duo were trying to siphon off petrol from one of the motorcycles at Tonde building in Sutarwadi, around 2.30am. The fire spread to adjacent motorcycles.
Bhausaheb Karbhari Ghodke (36), owner of one of the ruined motorcycles, lodged a complaint with the Chatushrungi police.
“CCTV cameras installed at a neighbouring establishment have captured the images of two men entering the premises. Also, residents of the building who rushed downstairs spotted the suspects fleeing on a motorcycle. The four-storied building does not have a watchman,” senior inspector Anil Shewale of the Chatushrungi police said.
Shewale said the duo carried a pipe and a plastic drum. “They broke open the tank caps of six to seven motorcycles and stole about five litres of petrol. They were stealing petrol from Ghodke’s motorcycle when the fire started. Within a few minutes, three other motorcycles were engulfed. The duo left the drum of petrol and fled,” he said.
The fire damaged a few cables nearby, while the walls of the parking lot of the building were blackened by soot, Shewale said.
The senior inspector said they were informed by the residents that fuel theft was a common problem in the area. “Whether the suspects stole petrol because of the rising fuel prices is something we would be able to ascertain only after arresting them,” Shewale said.
Shewale said a majority of the residents of the building were from the lower-income group and make a living as casual workers. “Ghodke is a casual worker and is worried about the repair cost of his motorcycle,” Shewale said.
Local resident Suryakant said residents of nearby slum pockets were a constant menace in the area and did not rule out arson. “They always target motorcycles in the Pashan area. They vandalize bikes, cars and autorickshaws on a regular basis. Police must probe how the fire started — whether it was an accident or intentional,” he said.
For the moment, police have registered a against the two unidentified men under the sections 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance), 379 (theft), 511 (attempt to commit offence) and 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code.