Ahmedabad Local Crime Branch (LCB) apprehended a notorious bike thief responsible for multiple vehicle thefts across the city over the past five years. The accused, identified as Popatlal Lakhana of Dungarpur in Rajasthan, was caught in a police operation in the Bodakdev area. A total of 32 stolen two-wheelers have been recovered from his possession in Dungarpur.
The arrest follows months of surveillance and investigation by the LCB of Zone-7. Reports of rampant two-wheeler thefts had emerged from posh areas such as Bodakdev, Vastrapur, Satellite, Anandnagar, and Gujarat University road, prompting police to intensify their crackdown on organised bike theft gangs.
Using a combination of CCTV footage and technical surveillance, the police tracked suspicious activities near multiple crime spots. The breakthrough came when confidential intelligence indicated that a suspect was planning to leave the Bodakdev area with a stolen vehicle. A special team was deployed to monitor the location, leading to the suspect’s swift arrest.
Investigations revealed that the accused had been stealing vehicles in Ahmedabad for the past six years. Originally employed as a cook in the city, he later turned to crime. His modus operandi involved stealing bikes, altering their registration details, and selling them in his hometown in Rajasthan for prices ranging from ₹7,000 to ₹10,000.
As per senior police officials, “Once the accused registration details were altered, the accused would drive the vehicles to his hometown and then sell them.”
He primarily targeted vehicles parked in isolated areas, quickly breaking their locks before fleeing. His extensive knowledge of city roads allowed him to evade police for years. However, with intensified patrolling and surveillance, his luck finally ran out.
Multiple cases across Ahmedabad
The accused has been linked to numerous cases under investigation at Bodakdev police station, Vastrapur police station, Satellite police station, Anandnagar, Sola Station, Bopal, Gujarat University police station among others.
Massive seizure of stolen vehicles
During interrogation, the accused confessed to several thefts, leading the police to the recovery of 32 stolen motorbikes from different locations. The total value of the recovered vehicles is estimated to be ₹6.91lakh.
Further investigation is underway to trace potential accomplices and uncover any links to a larger vehicle theft network. The accused remains in police custody as legal proceedings move forward.