Robin’s wings clipped: Audi-driving luxury car thief caught in Delhi

His luxury drive literally opened doors of posh localities for him. He would drive the vehicle into the driveways of homes in tony Delhi localities, put up a stern face, tick off the guards for a missing shirt button or a cap not worn properly and enter the house, stealing at will.

He drove his way in and out of thefts and that too in an Audi.

Robin, who has more than 30 cases of auto theft registered against him, was delivering a stolen BMW at a five-star hotel in Paschim Vihar, Delhi on Wednesday when police nabbed him. (HT Photo)

His luxury drive literally opened doors of posh localities for him. He would drive the vehicle into the driveways of homes in tony Delhi localities, put up a stern face, tick off the guards for a missing shirt button or a cap not worn properly and enter the house, stealing at will.

His pick: luxury cars which he would drive away while an associate would bring his Audi home.

Robin, who has more than 30 cases of auto theft registered against him, was delivering a stolen BMW at a five-star hotel in Paschim Vihar, Delhi on Wednesday when police nabbed him.

“He used to strike in the morning hours when people are either busy getting ready for work or are out for morning walks,” an investigator told HT.

He would target houses where families leave their front doors open to let in domestic helps or other staff as they get busy with their mornings, the officer said.

Recently, he managed to lay hands on a BMW. The key was lying on the table and he could not resist, he told police. It is not clear if the BMW he was dropping at the hotel was the same car.

“He would drive to posh localities in his Audi with an associate and confidently enter the house. He would steal car keys and drive away with them,” the officer said.

Unsuspecting guards would often open the gates, without realising they were aiding a theft. “How many thieves drive an Audi? Laptops, speakers, cameras and even candle stands -- he would steal anything,” the officer said.

Police zeroed in on Robin after CCTV footage of him stealing a BMW from a compound of Noida’s Sector 17 came to light. The footage has two men getting inside the compound in an Audi. One of them goes inside a house and returns with the car keys. “He drove the BMW past the security without getting caught, while his associate followed him in the Audi. A case was registered and we sought help from the local intelligence to trace the stolen car,” an investigator said.

They arrested him after they were alerted about his presence in Delhi, the officer said. Robin would be handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police for questioning.

Police have a good reason to suspect that the Audi that has aided many car thefts is also stolen.