Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Dec 1: The Vanrai police have arrested a gang of burglars who used stolen autorickshaws as their getaway vehicles during a series of night-time break-ins. Their arrest has helped the police crack five pending cases.

The investigation began after two iron rods, each two metres long and weighing a total of 130 kg, were stolen from a shop in Goregaon East on the night of November 18–19. After registering an FIR, officers reviewed CCTV footage and questioned locals, eventually learning that a group of thieves was using autorickshaws to move around the city at night and target both commercial and residential properties.

Acting on a tip-off, the police set up a trap in Bandra East and apprehended three suspects — Sachin Gavas (43), Yogesh Rathod (19) and Taufiq Khan (43). All three have previous cases registered against them for autorickshaw theft in Andheri, Goregaon and Borivli.

Police said the arrests have helped piece together multiple unsolved burglary cases and further investigation is underway.