The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has busted a car theft gang operating mainly in the capital and Sylhet division.
Eight stolen vehicles were recovered and four members of the gang had been arrested. Police identified the arrestees as Nurul Hoque, Abdul Alim alias Imon, Md Ridoy Pathan alias Uzzal Pathan and Rubel.
A number of car thefts were reported in Dhaka city recently. A case was filed at Kafrul Police Station on January 21 over the theft of a private car from the opposite side of Mirpur BRTA office.
The case was transferred to DB. During investigation by DB (Mirpur Division), detectives scrutinised surveillance camera footage from near the place of occurrence, said DMP ADC (Media) Iftekharul Islam.
After analysing the footage, DB arrested Nurul and recovered a stolen private car on January 28. Based on his information, they arrested Imon from Bijoynagar of Brahmanbaria and recovered two stolen vehicles on March 12, reports UNB.
Nurul and Imon were produced before a Dhaka magistrate court.
Pathan and Rubel were later arrested from Madhabpur of Habiganj on March 16 based on Nurul and Imon's information. Five stolen private cars were recovered from their possession.
During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees described how they steal and sell vehicles.
Operating in small groups, they look for the target in the city.
When the opportunity arrives, one of the members opens the car and flees towards Araihazar, Purbachal or Kachpur Bridge. The rest of the gang usually escorts the stolen vehicle on motorcycle.
The vehicle is then taken to a syndicate selling stolen cars in Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Sunamganj or Moulvibazar.
From there, the car is taken to a remote bordering area where documents are forged.
Then the syndicate sells the stolen car at a much lower price to unsuspecting people. Some members of this syndicate carry yaba, phensedyl and cannabis in these stolen cars, police said.