Pune: The Wakad police on Saturday arrested a 21-year-old criminal on the police records for was stealing motorcycles with the help of two minor accomplices. Police have recovered 11 motorcycles worth Rs 3.30 lakh from the suspects.The arrested suspect, Arbaz Bashir Shaikh of Gahunje village in Maval, used to steal the bikes for joy rides. A Wakad police team led by senior inspector Satish Mane made the arrests.Mane said on Saturday sub-inspector Harish Mane and his team, who were patrolling, got a tip-off that a person involved in a series of vehicles thefts was standing along the service road in Wakad. “Our team took the man into custody,” Mane said.Shaikh admitted to his involvement in the vehicle thefts in Wakad and Hinjewadi areas with the help of his minor accomplices, Mane said, adding, “The gang had stolen 11 motorcycles.” The minors have been detained.Sub-inspector Harish Mane told TOI that Shaikh and the minors who are around 14 years of age used to ride away with the motorcycles by connecting the ignition wires. “They used to drive the motorcycle till its fuel tank dried up and then abandon it before stealing another one,” Satish Mane said.Five vehicle theft cases registered with the Wakad police and six with the Hinjewadi police have been solved. “We expect to solve more cases,” Mane said.Shaikh has a case of dacoity registered against with Talegaon Dabhade police and a case of abduction registered with the Dehu Road police.Two impaired minors help steal bikesThe Khadki police on Friday arrested a 19-year-old youth for stealing two-wheelers along with his two minor speech and hearing impaired accomplices. A probe revealed that the trio used to steal the motorcycles for joy rides. Police recovered seven motorcycles worth Rs 1.30 lakh from the suspects.Sub-inspector of the Khadki police Nilesh Mahadik told TOI that the police were tipped off about the three youngsters, including the two speech and hearing impaired, using different motorcycles for the past six months. “We took three of them to the police station for questioning and the trio admitted to their involvement in vehicle thefts,” Mahadik said.Police summoned the parents of the minors, who are 16 years old, to communicate with them. “The duo admitted that they used to steal the motorcycles for joy rides,” Mahadik said. The minors were not detained.

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