200 bikes recovered in Barabanki

LUCKNOW: Barabanki police recovered 200 bikes and nine four-wheelers in Zaidpur area of the district on Friday. The vehicles were recovered following interrogation of three vehicle thieves identified as Shahim, Firoz and Suhail who were arrested 10 days back. About 100 bikes were recovered at that time. However, the kingpin Ravi Massey is still on the run.
Highlighting the gang’s modus operandi, superintendent of police, Barabanki, Arvind Chaturvedi said the thieves, who were hand in glove with employees of two-wheeler agencies, used to buy a bike on genuine document.Later, they fudged documents with the photograph of different person to purchase another vehicle. They then sold the second bike in rural areas at throwaway prices. “Buyers were told that bikes on sale were cheaper as these were bought from army canteen and was in the name of another person. The buyers were also told that the bike would be transferred in their name after a year,” said Chaturvedi.
When banks confronted the original buyer over non-payment of instalment, the gang members would tell bankers they had purchased only one motorcycle. Banks had no clue about the owner or user of the second bike, said the police officer. The gang had links with financing agencies, transport department along with auto agencies which is being tracked down, said police.