<p>A serial vehicle thief stole a scooter after hitching a lift citing an emergency last week, police said. The suspect was apprehended on Friday. </p>.<p>Prashanth, a resident of Koramangala, was riding a Honda Dio (registration number KA 01/JD 5083) to deliver printing materials from Halasuru to Wilson Garden on Wednesday. Around 11.30 am, as he reached Rajendra Nagar, a pedestrian asked him for a lift to the Viveknagar church, saying he was in an emergency. </p>.<p>Prashanth obliged him. But on the way, the hitchhiker pulled out a knife and asked Prashanth to let him ride the scooter, saying he wants to show his riding skills to his elder brother. A frightened Prashanth gave him the scooter keys. The hitchhiker rode up till Pothalappa Garden in Adugodi and pulled in at a tea stall, saying they would have tea before proceeding. </p>.<p>The moment Prashanth got off and turned towards the tea stall, Nayeem rode off. Prashanth immediately called the police control room and reported the matter. </p>.<p>Adugodi police tracked down the vehicle thief after reviewing the CCTV footage. They identified him as Nayeem, 23, a resident of Gurappanapalya. Police described him as a habitual offender but said this appeared to be his first scooter robbery. </p>.<p>Prashanth told <span class="italic">DH</span>: “I had kept printing job works, a mobile phone, Rs 3,500 in cash and earphones in the scooter storage box. Police have returned my earphones and the printing materials.” </p>.<p>An investigating officer said they were questioning Nayeem if he committed more crimes. </p>
<p>A serial vehicle thief stole a scooter after hitching a lift citing an emergency last week, police said. The suspect was apprehended on Friday. </p>.<p>Prashanth, a resident of Koramangala, was riding a Honda Dio (registration number KA 01/JD 5083) to deliver printing materials from Halasuru to Wilson Garden on Wednesday. Around 11.30 am, as he reached Rajendra Nagar, a pedestrian asked him for a lift to the Viveknagar church, saying he was in an emergency. </p>.<p>Prashanth obliged him. But on the way, the hitchhiker pulled out a knife and asked Prashanth to let him ride the scooter, saying he wants to show his riding skills to his elder brother. A frightened Prashanth gave him the scooter keys. The hitchhiker rode up till Pothalappa Garden in Adugodi and pulled in at a tea stall, saying they would have tea before proceeding. </p>.<p>The moment Prashanth got off and turned towards the tea stall, Nayeem rode off. Prashanth immediately called the police control room and reported the matter. </p>.<p>Adugodi police tracked down the vehicle thief after reviewing the CCTV footage. They identified him as Nayeem, 23, a resident of Gurappanapalya. Police described him as a habitual offender but said this appeared to be his first scooter robbery. </p>.<p>Prashanth told <span class="italic">DH</span>: “I had kept printing job works, a mobile phone, Rs 3,500 in cash and earphones in the scooter storage box. Police have returned my earphones and the printing materials.” </p>.<p>An investigating officer said they were questioning Nayeem if he committed more crimes. </p>
