Man suspected to be part of vehicle theft gang held

Thiruvananthapuram: The Karamana police on Friday arrested a 28-year-old man, who is suspected to be a key member of an interstate vehicle theft gang. The arrested has been identified as Lukman Hakim, a resident of Beema Palli.
He was caught from Kulathupuzha in Kollam in connection with the theft of an MUV two years ago. The car owner, Rejin of Amaravila, in his complaint had stated that Hakim approached him seeking the vehicle on rental for the purpose of a marriage. The vehicle was handed over at Karamana. But Hakim disappeared with the vehicle.
Karamana SHO B Aneesh said that Hakim sold the car to a person in Tamil Nadu who deals with the trade of stolen vehicles. He then abandoned his old phone and SIM card to avoid being traced and got settled in Kulathupuzha.
The SHO said that there were strong reasons to suspect that Hakim was part of a bigger gang. Following the arrest, he admitted to smuggling another MUV two years ago from the Museum police station limits using the same modus operandi.
Meanwhile, Karamana police received a call from a rental car dealer from Pozhiyoor claiming that he had lost two of his cars through the same modus operandi and Hakim could be involved with the perpetrators of that crime too.
He told the police that he lost a Hyundai i10 and a Hyundai Grand i10 which were rented out by the accused for marriage purposes. Efforts are also on to arrest the buyer of stolen vehicles in Tamil Nadu, he said.
Police have booked the accused under relevant sections of theft and cheating. He was produced before the court and was remanded in judicial custody.