The City police have recovered 203 stolen motorcycles following the arrest of a four-member gang.

The kingpin Yograj, 34, a resident of Dasarahalli, had created hundreds of fake registration certificate (RC) books and obtained smart cards for stolen bikes.His aides arrested are Mohammed Sadiq, 21, Mubarak, 19, Salman, 20, and Irfan, 19, all residents of JJ Nagar.

Besides recovering 203 two-wheelers from Bangalore Rural, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Kolar, Mandya, Hospet and other places, the JJ Nagar police also seized duplicate Regional Transport Office (RTO) rubber stamps, RC books and smart cards.

Yograj used to buy vehicles from four of them who used to steal two-wheelers using duplicate keys from parking lots and those parked in front of residences. The modus operandi being he used to go to different places in the State and make note of two-wheelers registration numbers and return.

Later, he changed the registration number of the stolen vehicles with the registration number he had jotted down and would seek details of registration numbers by applying through B-extract, an online portal of the RTO. 

After availing details, he used to make duplicate RC books, including details obtained through B-extract. However, he would retain the engine and chassis numbers of the stolen vehicles, the police said.

“After obtaining smart cards for the vehicles, he used to sell them by advertising in websites or through used vehicle dealers. The buyers had no clue from the smart card they were buying a stolen vehicle.”

Yograj, the police said, was eluding arrest for the past four years. However, based on suspicion, he was arrested along with his associates who confessed to the crime.

The police, tracking down the number of cases registered, found that a total of 81 cases of two-wheeler thefts were registered in the various police stations across the City.

Police Commissioner M N Reddi announced a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh for JJ Nagar police. Investigation is on to check if Yograj had contacts with the staff of the RTOs.

Held for house theft

The police arrested Shariff Pasha, 33, a resident of JJ Nagar, in connection with a robbery case in Hosaguddadahalli in the Byatarayanapura police limits around four months ago.

He had made away with Rs 20.5 lakh in cash from the house. Based on a tip-off, Pasha was arrested and Rs 15 lakh in cash recovered from him.

He told the police that he had committed the crime along with three juveniles. The police have arrested the juveniles and are investigating further.