Pune: An addiction to online gaming led a 23-year-old arts degree student from Sangamner in Ahmednagar district to steal cruiser motorcycles to recover money he lost while playing. Over the last five months, he stole 18 motorcycles — including 11 cruiser bikes, from parking areas of different apartments in Chakan. He sold the motorcycles in Nashik and Sangamner through four accomplices, who helped identify customers.
Assistant inspector Prasanna Jarhad and his team from Chakan police traced and arrested the student from Sangamner after examining footage of more than 150 CCTV cameras. Later, the team took his four accomplices into custody from Nashik and Ahmednagar districts. Jarhad told TOI that in the last five months, theft of cruiser motorcycles in Chakan was on the rise.
"We began our probe on our observation that the thief was only stealing cruiser motorcycles. After checking over 150 CCTV cameras, we managed to establish the route the thief took from Chakan to Sangamner." He said that last week, police laid a trap in Sangamner and took the suspect into custody.
"An arts student, he admitted to his involvement and revealed the names of his accomplices, who worked as his agents," he said. Jarhad said that during interrogation, it was revealed the student was addicted to online gaming and had suffered a huge loss. "He started to steal motorcycles to recover the money.
He stole cruiser motorcycles since they are in demand. He would cut the ignition wire and break the hand.