Ran out of money meeting girlfriend, Gwalior man steals 5 bikes in Chhattisgarh

A 28-year-old man who travelled from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh 's Raigarh to meet his girlfriend turned to bike theft after running out of money, police said. He was arrested after CCTV footage helped link him to a series of vehicle thefts in the city.

The accused, identified as Nirmal Dhakad, a resident of Morar in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, stole motorcycles and scooters with keys left in their ignitions. Police recovered five two-wheelers, including four motorcycles and one scooter, worth around Rs 2.50 lakh, based on information provided by him.advertisement❮❯ Read Full StoryCCTV FOOTAGE HELPED POLICE TRACE SUSPECTThe Kotwali police intensified their investigation after a series of bike thefts in the city, under the direction of Senior SP Shashi Mohan Singh.

During the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from different locations. The same suspect was seen in all five theft incidents, helping investigators establish a link between the cases.

On September 24, police received information that a suspicious young man was allegedly attempting to steal a motorcycle near a Gaushala (cow shelter).

A Kotwali police team immediately reached the spot. Locals were shown a photograph of the suspect and identified him as the man who had fled after tampering with a motorcycle.

Police then launched a search for him. The suspect was eventually spotted in the Police Colony area near the wireless set. A chase followed, after which the police apprehended him.

During questioning, police identified the accused as Nirmal Dhakad, 28. According to the police, Dhakad had travelled from Gwalior to Raigarh on September 12 to meet his female friend.

After arriving in the city, he allegedly ran out of money. Police said he then began stealing motorcycles to meet his expenses.

According to investigators, Dhakad specifically targeted motorcycles and scooters that had been left with their keys in the ignition. After stealing a vehicle, he would ride it around until it ran out of fuel.

Once the fuel was exhausted, he would allegedly abandon the stolen vehicle and steal another one.FIVE VEHICLE THEFT CASES SOLVED

Based on information provided by Dhakad, police recovered five two-wheelers, comprising four motorcycles and one scooter. Their total estimated value is around Rs 2.50 lakh. Nirmal Dhakad arrested by Raigarh police for stealing five two-wheelers.

The recovery helped police solve five vehicle theft cases registered at Kotwali police station.

Police produced Dhakad before the court on judicial remand. He was subsequently sent to jail.WHAT POLICE SAYS

SSP Shashi Mohan Singh said police had received information from an informant about a young man behaving suspiciously and attempting to steal a motorcycle near the Gaushala.

A police team reached the location after receiving the tip-off. The accused attempted to flee but was caught after a chase, the SSP said.

According to Singh, five motorcycles and one scooter were recovered from the accused. He also said Dhakad had come to Raigarh from Gwalior on September 12 to meet his girlfriend but allegedly turned to theft after running out of money.

The SSP said Dhakad would allegedly abandon a stolen motorcycle after it ran out of fuel and then steal another vehicle.- EndsWith inputs from Naresh Sharma