Four individuals have been apprehended by the police for their involvement in a vehicle theft gang responsible for two separate cases. The gang used a ‘duplicate’ key to steal vehicles, targeting high-end cars for their criminal activities.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rajesh Radheshyam Pandit, aged 37, from Uttar Pradesh; Manoj Mahendra Parihar, aged 42, from Hathras (Uttar Pradesh); Ismaili Shabbir Ahmed Khan, aged 37, from Delhi; and Gorakhnath alias Pappu Salave, aged 41, from Kalewadi, Pune. Their most recent theft involved a Fortuner taken from the Loni Kand area last month.
The arrests were made in Theur Phata in Pune district, based on evidence from CCTV camera footage and technical analysis.
The modus operandi of the gang involved breaking the car window using a screwdriver and connecting a car key programmer tool to the vehicle’s wiring system. This allowed them to copy the details of the four-wheeler and create a duplicate key for stealing the vehicle. The gang further employed fake number plates to facilitate the sale or mortgage of stolen vehicles in Gujarat, often using forged smart cards.
The gang also admitted to stealing an Innova Crysta from Nashik, which they subsequently sold in Rajasthan. The electronic device used to create duplicate car keys was purchased from Delhi.
As a result of the police operation, a Fortuner valued at ₹19,00,000 and various devices used for the criminal activities amounting to ₹20,80,800 were recovered. The police assert that they have successfully solved two vehicle theft cases that were reported at the Loni Kand police station, as well as a case handled by their counterparts in Gangapur, Nashik.
