Hinjawadi: Pimpri Chinchwad Police Bust Motorcycle Theft Ring, Recover 18 Stolen Bikes

Under the leadership of Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Sawant from Crime Branch Unit-4, a dedicated team consisting of Police Sub-Inspector Mayuresh Salunkhe and officers Narayan Jadhav, Sanjay Gaware, Pravin Dale, Tushar Shete, Mohammad Ghaus Nadaf, Suresh Jaybhaye, Vasudev Munde, Sunil Gutte, Dhanaji Shinde, Sukhdev Gawande, and Govind Chavan was formed into three squads to investigate the case.

During the investigation, the team reviewed footage from 70 to 80 CCTV cameras along the routes where the motorcycles were stolen. The painstaking analysis by officers Suresh Jaybhaye and Vasudev Munde, supported by technical data, led to the detention of a suspect. Upon further interrogation, the team identified 21-year-old Abhishek Mallappa Hawlekar, a resident of Sai Darshan Colony, Shahupuri, Satara, currently residing at Ambethan in Chakan, Pune, as the main perpetrator.

Hawlekar was apprehended on August 20, 2024. Upon further questioning, he confessed to the crime and revealed his method of operation. Hawlekar admitted to leaving his home in Satara due to a family dispute and learning how to steal motorcycles by watching instructional videos on YouTube. He targeted vehicles near highways to avoid detection by CCTV cameras.

The investigation also uncovered that Hawlekar was involved in 16 cases of vehicle theft across Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad, and Satara, leading to the recovery of 18 stolen motorcycles valued at approximately Rs. 8,90,000. The ongoing investigation is being led by Police Sub-Inspector Mayuresh Salunkhe of Crime Branch Unit-4, Pimpri Chinchwad, to identify any additional crimes committed by the suspect.

The successful operation was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Vinayakumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner of Police Dr. Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional Commissioner of Police Vasant Pardeshi, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode, and other senior officials. The teamwork and diligence of the officers involved have been commendable in curbing the rising incidents of motorcycle theft in the region.