Auto-lifters' gang busted in Delhi, 12 stolen vehicles seized

An auto lifters' gang operating in the south Delhi area was busted here Sunday with the arrest of six people, police said.

The leader of the gang, Manoj Kumar alias Thakur, 22, and his accomplices Manoj alias Jagga, 22, Shashank, 19, Dipanker, 24 - all residents of south Delhi - as well as Ajeet Kumar, 21, and Sanjay Kumar, 22, residents of Ghaziabad and Baraut in Uttar Pradesh were arrested Sunday.

“An auto-lifters' gang was busted as six members, including two who were pursuing their Bachelor of Business Administration, were arrested. Twelve stolen vehicles (10 motorcycles and two cars), stolen vehicle accessories, fake stamps, forged documents were recovered,” a statement issued by the south district police said.

With the arrests, police claim to have solved 34 cases of auto thefts in the capital, especially in the south Delhi area, where the gang was operating.

According to officials, interrogation of the six men revealed that they would steal the motorcycles or cars at night, park them in areas around Jangpura, south Delhi, after which the stolen vehicles would be taken to Ghaziabad.

“There, they would superimpose the engine number, chassis number and registration number plates of old and genuine motorcycles, on the stolen vehicles so that they could sell these as genuine. Efforts are on to recover more stolen motor vehicles from various areas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh,” the police statement said.

Last updated on Jul 5^th, 2009 at 15:59 pm IST--IANS