Sinlung /
24 June 2011

With 50 Stolen Bikes, Manipuri Youths Land in Net



Bangalore, Jun 24
: They once broke the handle lock of a motorcycle for fun. The successful experiment later influenced three Manipuri youths to go a bike-stealing spree.

Viveknagar police caught the trio, including a student, and seized 50 motorcycles. Their modus operandi involved using fake rubber stamps and seals of regional transport authorities to create fake registration of vehicles.

The arrested are S K Gowning (23), Mark Irnin (22) and Austin (24). Gowning is pursuing his graduation from Karnataka State Open University while the other two have completed their courses and are in search for jobs.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

As part of their job search, the three planned a trip to Goa where they tried to break the handle lock of a motorcycle for fun. There they realized that stealing bikes would meet their financial needs. On returning, they started stealing bikes near their house in Ejipura.

Over time, they also got into making fake documents. In one-and-a-half years, the three managed to steal 50 vehicles from Vivek Nagar, Adugodi, BTM Layout, Koramangala, and Panaji.

"We raided their house and found a laptop along with some documents. They even forged the signature of regional transport officers (RTOs) along with their office seals," said S S Belegali, inspector, Vivek Nagar.

A special police team has been sent to Manipur to find whether the youths had sent any stolen vehicles there.

MODUS OPERANDI

They would go out at night and locate bikes parked outside gates. Them they would break the handle locks and take them away. Later the number plates would be changed and fake documents made for the new number. They sold the stolen bikes to Manipuris staying in Bangalore.

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