Thane: Two arrested for car robberies

The Titwala police based in Thane rural police have arrested two accused and recovered four cars and one mangalsutra, worth a total of Rs 21 lakh, from them on Monday. The arrested accused used to get contacts of tourist offices from Just Dial, used to book cars and later run away with them by either hoodwinking or threatening the drivers.

The arrested accused have been identified as Rajendra Desale alias Raj (28) and Arjun Bhoir (28). Both are residents of Titwala and are, at present, jobless.

During interrogation, the accused revealed that they were involved in car thefts and that they had robbed four vehicles. Avinash Patil, Assistant Police Inspector, Titwala police station, said, "They used to get tourist operator numbers from Just Dial. Calling them, they used to book a long route fare. In one case, they took the driver to a hotel on the National Highway and one of them him told that he left his bag in the car that has cash in it. Taking the keys, he fled away with the car. When the driver went to see the car, the other two also ran away. In three other cases, they took the cars to remote areas, and threatened the drivers with knife or at gunpoint. Four cases are registered against them at Walvi, Ganeshpuri, Virar and Vartak Nagar police station."

"We have seized four cars that include two Innova, Chevolert Enjoy and Honda Accent and the gold mangalsutra. The Accent car was still with them, while the three other cars were sold. They prepared fake papers and sold the cars changing the number plates. We have informed the respective police stations, which will take things ahead. They were produced in court on April 12 and are in our custody till April 16," added Venkat Andhale, Senior police inspector, Titwala police station.

Patil further added, "We are in search of one Jitu Madrasi and a woman, who are the mastermind in the case, and are absconding. The arrested accused told us that they just use to get a share of Rs 10,000 behind a case and that the mastermind is Jitu."

The accused were earlier arrested in a chain snatching case. "Doubting that the accused are involved in snatching a gold chain of a 50-year-old woman, a case was registered with us. We detained the accused duo on April 8. On further interrogation, they spilled the beans about car thefts," informed Patil.