Cops recover 22 stolen motorcycles, electrician held

Pune: A 33-year-old electrician has been arrested by Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch, which recovered from him 22 stolen motorcycles worth Rs12.90 lakh.Police said the suspect, Sachin Marale of Baramati, residing in Old Sangvi, allegedly stole the motorcycles to make quick money. They have also registered cases against seven people who allegedly purchased the motorcycles from Marale without verifying their registration documents.A crime branch team led by senior police inspector Rameshwar Motale made the arrest. An officer said, “During the investigation of a motorcycle theft case registered with Pimpri police, assistant police inspector Dattatreya Guling examined footage from more than 300 CCTV cameras. He found the thief avoided main roads and used bylanes after stealing two-wheelers. We traced him and nabbed him before he could escape.”During questioning, Marale allegedly admitted to stealing at least 22 motorcycles from Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune city and Pune district. He also admitted to selling the motorcycles at cheaper rates to different people. “He used to tell the customers that these motorcycles had been seized by finance companies,” the officer said. Police have traced the owners of 16 motorcycles and are looking for the owners of the remaining six.