Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Nov 9: A thief who had mastered the art of stealing motor bikes by visiting jewellery shops in the guise of buying gold chains stands arrested. The arrested man happens to be Pradeep Rama Moily (29) from Inna village near Padubidri. He was arrested by Kaup police circle inspector (PCI), Halamurty Rao, with the help of Padubidri police during his routine patrol from near Suratkal Flyover on Tuesday November 8 morning.

The youth reportedly confessed to the police that he resorted to stealing of motor bikes due to his lure for luxurious life. He was arrested with a Hero Hondo motor bike he had stolen on August 19.

The Padubidri police said that three of the motor bikes he had stolen earlier are already in their custody. Four more motor bikes, an eight gram gold chain he had stolen from Lulu Jewellers Padubidri on Monday, and another ten gram chain he had pocketed from Kripa Jewellery at Shirva two weeks ago, were confiscated by the police. Total value of assets seized from his possession has been put at Rs 2.83 lac.

The police said Moily used to steal the motor bikes, use them to visit places of his choice, and leave the stolen bikes somewhere else. He again resorted to stealing of another motor bike whenever he needed them. Padubidri police had taken into possession three such motor bikes he had abandoned at different places after using them. Three more more motor bikes were found to have been kept in the parental home of his wife at Kinnigoli, whereas he was found riding the seventh one when police took him into custody.

In some cases, Moily got hold of motor bikes with ignition key, whereas in other cases he used to break hand locks and take the bikes away. He also used to change registration numbers of the motor bikes so stolen.

After completing PU education, Pradeep had worked in a private company at Manipal between 2011 and 2013. He had misused the identity card issued to him during some of his thefts. Based on CCTV footage in jewellery shops, district superintendent of police, K T Balakrishna and Karkala assistant superintendent of police, Dr Sumana, had guided the operation that was executed by PCI Halamurty Rao and Padubidri in-charge police sub inspector, Basappa and others.