Truck stealing gang busted; 3, including couple, arrested

Mumbai: The Ghatkopar police recently busted a gang which used to steal trucks from the city and sell them off in Gujarat

Mumbai: The Ghatkopar police recently busted a gang which used to steal trucks from the city and sell them off in Gujarat. Three people, including a couple, were arrested from the neighbouring state. Two trucks, a dumper and some equipment used to break locks were recovered from them.

As per police officials, the mastermind of the gang – Sukhdevsingh Sajjusingh Sohel, 53 – has been stealing heavy vehicles from Mumbai for more than two decades and has nine cases registered against him in Mulund, Vashi, Mahim, NM Joshi and Thane police stations. Besides, he also has two cases each registered with Bharuch and Gorava police stations in Gujarat. (Image for representation)

Last week, the trio was nabbed from Gujarat and was brought to the city.

As per police officials, the mastermind of the gang – Sukhdevsingh Sajjusingh Sohel, 53 – has been stealing heavy vehicles from Mumbai for more than two decades and has nine cases registered against him in Mulund, Vashi, Mahim, NM Joshi and Thane police stations. Besides, he also has two cases each registered with Bharuch and Gorava police stations in Gujarat.

His wife Sunita Sohel, 39, also helps him in the crime, said the police officials, adding, “The couple moved together to identify heavy vehicles in the city and surrounding areas to avoid suspicion.” The third arrested member of the gang – identified as Firoj Mohammad Shaikh, 43 – helped the couple in stealing and selling the vehicles. The couple lives in Vadodara, whereas Shaikh is an Ahmedabad resident.

According to the police, the accused had stolen a truck worth ₹5 lakh from Bhimnagar Junction on Ghatkopar-Andheri Link Road on December 2. The truck owner, Krishna Ravidhone, had filed a complaint with the Ghatkopar police station on December 10.

“We checked the footage of the CCTV cameras covering the area where the truck had been parked and call records of the accused involved in vehicle thefts in the past. We found some technical evidence and after it was verified, a police team visited Sohel’s residence in Gujarat, but he was not at home,” said Dyaneshwar Kharmate, sub-inspector, Ghatkopar police station.

“The team waited for a few days and kept watch on his residence and with the help of the local police, raided his residence at night. We found him hiding in the bed’s storage box, but his leg was visible from the corner of the storage. During interrogation, he revealed his wife’s role in the theft. She helped them in stealing vehicles and dealing with prospective purchasers of the stolen trucks,” Kharmate added.

After Sohel revealed Shaikh’s name, he too was nabbed from Gujarat. The trio is remanded in police custody till Thursday, said inspector Pramod Kokate.

“Sohel has been stealing vehicles from Mumbai for over two decades and was arrested in many cases as well, but he comes out on bail on the ground of various ailments,” said Kharmate.

The recovered vehicles were stolen from the jurisdictions of MIDC, Ghatkopar and Saki Naka police stations in Mumbai. Apart from the vehicles, the police have also recovered a truck engine, gas cutter, a commercial gas cylinder and other equipment from the gang, added the officer.