Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 30: Policemen of Jalahalli station here, who disguised themselves as owners of cars meant to be sold, hunting for prospective buyers, succeeded in arresting a 'most wanted' car thief. They also recovered from his possession nine luxury cars worth Rs 60 lac.

The accused has been identified as Stephen Harris (31), resident of Akkayyappa Garden in Yashwanthpura here. With this arrest, several car theft cases registered at Kalasipalya and Rajarajeshwarinagara police stations here have been solved.

Stephen used to find customers for cars put up for auction including those financed by banks. Once his clients bought the cars, he would take the car with him in the guise of setting right documents in a few days. He would then sell these cars at low prices in rural areas. Sometimes he also hypothecated the cars. Thereafter, he would change his cellphone numbers.

He used to project himself as a car dealer, take cars sometimes from known people in the name of trial, and then go missing. In April this year, he had borrowed a Volkeswagen car from a person named Srinivas within Jalahalli station limits for trial purpose, and then did not come back. His cellphone remained switched off, after which Srinivas filed a complaint at Jalahalli police station.

A police team led by inspector, Murugendrappa operated continuously for 30 days and succeeded in its mission of nabbing the culprit.He was found to have sold cars at places like Kolar, Malur, Nagamangala, and several places in Tamil Nadu. The accused was produced in the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Deputy superintendent of police of north division, T R Suresh, said that the accused was in the habit of taking cars for trial and selling them to others. He said that several pending cases have been solved with his arrest.

Those who bought cars from Stephen and those who financed him against hypothecation of cars are now left high and dry as they neither have cars with them nor money.