Bike thief’s luck runs out of gas

He was just 16, and loved breakneck pace. Mufti Shaikh (name changed) a Standard X student, had stolen 16 bikes in a year before he ran out of luck and was arrested by police with a stolen bike on Sunday night.

Shaikh was a bike thief with a difference. Police said that he never ever sold a stolen bike. He just rode them for fun, and abandoned the booty whenever it ran out of gas. He used to take his friends on long drive on the stolen bikes. Nine of the 16 bikes stolen by Shaikh was recovered from places like Oshiwara and Versova.

“Shaikh studied in Barfiwala School, Versova. He never ever sold the bikes stolen by him. He just used them to take his friends on long rides. Their utility lasted as long as the fuel in them lasted. On two occasions, Shaikh abandoned bikes in front of police chowkies,” said VK Chaubey, DCP (Zone IX).

Shaikh’s luck ran out on Sunday when he was stopped by a traffic cop on Veera Desai Road, Andheri (west), who asked for his licence. “When Shaikh failed to produce the required, he was grilled. He admitted that he was riding a stolen bike,” said Chaubey.

Kiran Sonavane, a Senior Inspector from Oshiwara police station, said that the boy had learnt the technique of starting a bike without ignition key. He confessed during interrogation that he stole bikes just for fun. “We have recovered nine bikes - two from near police chowkies and seven from various garages in Andheri,” said Sonavane.

Shaikh has been charged under sections for vehicle theft of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and has been sent to Dongri Remand Home.