Thane: A postgraduate in commerce and former IT employee has been arrested for allegedly stealing multiple auto-rickshaws in Maharashtra’s Thane city to support his liquor addiction, police said on Thursday. The police have seized four stolen auto-rickshaws, a motorcycle, and Rs 3.30 lakh in cash from the accused.
The accused, who previously worked as a data entry operator in an IT firm and also worked as a driver at Dubai airport, reportedly learnt techniques to steal vehicles through social media platforms such as YouTube and WhatsApp, said Senior Inspector Abhay Mahajan of Naupada police station.
According to police, the man, a resident of Mumbra, would steal auto-rickshaws, use them until they ran out of fuel, and then abandon them. The fare he earned during these rides was used to purchase alcohol. Officials say he became addicted after going through a personal setback; his wife left him several years ago, leaving him emotionally distressed, as per news agency report PTI.
Following a complaint of the auto-rickshaw in the Naupada area of the city. During the probe, police reviewed footage from 70–80 CCTV cameras in the vicinity, leading to his identification.
On Monday, the police got information that the accused was planning to visit the Naupada area again with the intention of stealing another auto-rickshaw, as per the report.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to being involved in thefts across several localities, including Naupada, Wagle Estate, and Rabodi. So far, police have linked him to seven theft cases registered at police stations in those areas. Additionally, three earlier cases had been registered against him at Naupada, Kopri (Thane), and Vakola (Mumbai) police stations.
