Pune:
The Pune Crime Branch has arrested four youths, including the son of a policeman, on charges of lifting bikes from the parking lots of hospitals, colleges, railways and bus stands. They have been identified as Kunal Vishwas Mahekar (19), Amar Tukaram Patil (24), Pratik Rajendra Patil (19) and Sagar Gade (19), all hailing from Kolhapur. Kunal is the son of a policeman, who is presently deputed at the State Reserve Police Force Group 1 in Ramtekdi Hadapsar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajesh Bansode said, "All the suspects are college-goers. Pratik is the kingpin of the gang, while Amar used to work as an agent to selling off the stolen bikes. They have confessed to have stolen 13 bikes from parking lots of Noble hospital, Wadia College, Pune Municipal Corporation and Swargate bus stand."
Assistant Police Inspector Arvind Gokule said, "The suspects used to target the bikes such as Pulsar, Activa and Honda Unicorn that would fetch good money. They would smash the headlight and start the bike by joining some internal wires. Surprisingly, the parking lot attendants never asked these youths for parking receipts."
Police Inspector B G Kutwal of AOC said, "After stealing the bike, the gang used to sell them off in Kolhapur. They used to tell potential buyers that the bikes were seized by some banks and were being auctioned off at a lesser price."