Udupi: Shirva police have arrested an accused involved in a scooter theft case and recovered five stolen two-wheelers from different police station limits, marking a significant breakthrough in a series of vehicle thefts reported in the region. The arrest follows a focused investigation carried out over several weeks across multiple locations in coastal and interior Karnataka.
The case came to light following a complaint lodged by Gunavathi, whose scooter was stolen earlier this month. Acting on the complaint, Shirva police formed a special team that eventually led to the arrest of the accused and the recovery of stolen vehicles linked to multiple cases.
Complaint that led to the investigation
According to the police, Gunavathi’s son Kaushik had taken her Honda Activa scooter to the Madhwa Vadiraja Institute of Engineering at Bantakal on December 5. During the lunch break at around 12.45 pm, Kaushik went to the nearby Durga Parameshwari Temple at Bantakal and parked the scooter there.
When he returned at around 1.15 pm after lunch, he found that the scooter was missing from the spot. Despite checking the surrounding area, the vehicle could not be traced, following which a complaint was lodged with the Shirva police.
The value of the stolen Honda Activa scooter was estimated at around Rs 60,000, police said.
Special team formed to trace accused
After registering the case, Shirva police constituted a special investigation team to trace the accused and recover the stolen vehicle. Police sources said that the team analysed patterns of similar thefts reported in nearby areas and gathered technical and local intelligence.
As part of the investigation, searches were conducted in several locations, including Udupi, Malpe, Karkala and Dharmasthala. Based on the leads developed during these operations, the police were able to identify the suspect allegedly involved in the theft.
Accused arrested after sustained search
Following sustained efforts, the police arrested the accused, identified as Om Kolar. During interrogation, the accused is said to have confessed to his involvement in the scooter theft reported under the Shirva police station limits.
Further questioning revealed that the accused was also involved in other two-wheeler theft cases registered in different police station limits. Acting on the information provided by him, the police recovered a total of five stolen two-wheelers.
Recovery of five stolen vehicles
Police said that out of the five recovered vehicles, one two-wheeler was linked to a case registered under the Shirva police station limits. The remaining four vehicles were connected to theft cases registered in the Kapu police station limits and Bengaluru city police station limits.
The recovery of multiple stolen vehicles from different jurisdictions highlights the inter-district nature of the thefts and the accused’s alleged involvement in a wider network of two-wheeler thefts, police said.
All the recovered vehicles have been seized and will be returned to their rightful owners after completing the necessary legal formalities.
Accused remanded to judicial custody
After completing the initial interrogation and recovery process, the accused was produced before the court. The court remanded him to judicial custody, police said, adding that further investigation is underway to determine whether he was operating alone or had assistance from others.
Police are also examining whether the accused is linked to additional theft cases reported in other parts of the state.
Senior officers supervise operation
The successful operation was carried out under the supervision of Karkala Assistant Superintendent of Police Dr Harsha Priyamvada and Kapu Circle Inspector Ajmath Ali. The investigation and arrest were led by the Inspector of Shirva police station.
Police officials said coordinated efforts and timely intelligence sharing between different units played a key role in solving the case and recovering the stolen vehicles.
Team members commended
The operation team included Shirva Police Sub-Inspector Manjunath Marbad, Lohith Kumar C S, and staff members Manjunath Adiga, Dayanand Prabhu, Anwar Ali, Siddarayappa, Manjunath Hosamani, Kiran, Shivanandappa and Basavaraj.
Senior officers are said to have appreciated the team’s efforts in tracing the accused across multiple locations and recovering stolen property linked to cases from different police station limits.
Police advisory to vehicle owners
In the wake of the case, police have advised vehicle owners to take additional precautions to prevent theft. They have urged people to park vehicles only in designated and secure locations, use proper locking systems and avoid leaving vehicles unattended in isolated areas.
Police also encouraged the public to report suspicious activity immediately and cooperate with law enforcement agencies to help curb vehicle thefts.
Conclusion
The arrest of the accused and recovery of five stolen two-wheelers has brought relief to several victims of vehicle theft and underscores the effectiveness of coordinated police action. Shirva police said they remain committed to cracking down on property-related offences and ensuring the safety and security of the public through proactive policing and sustained investigations.