Team Herald
PANJIM: The Porvorim
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Police Station has successfully uncovered a series of motorcycle and auto thefts in the PDA Colony area of Porvorim, as well as other parts of North Goa, leading to the arrest of one individual and the recovery of stolen property worth around Rs 4 lakh.
According to SP North, Akshat Kaushal, the police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by Saurabh, a resident of Alto Porvorim. He reported that his Royal Enfield Himalayan (registration GA 04 P 5100), valued at Rs 1.5 lakh, was stolen from the PDA Colony area on January 19.
Following the FIR, Porvorim PI Rahul Parab formed a specialised team to investigate the case. Using CCTV footage and intelligence gathering, the team located and arrested 19-year-old Lalit Vaigankar from Sodiem, Siolim. The stolen Royal Enfield Himalayan was recovered in Porvorim, along with a KTM Duke stolen from Mapusa.
During interrogation,Vaigankar revealed his involvement with others in the theft of an Aprilia scooter from Assonora, within the jurisdiction of the Colvale Police Station. The scooter was subsequently recovered. Additionally, a Yamaha motorcycle stolen from Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, was also retrieved.
The Porvorim Police are now searching for two more suspects connected to these thefts.
Police also stated that the accused allegedly confessed that they were drug addicts, would steal the bikes and then sell them off in Belgaum for a throwaway price to buy and inhale drugs.
The accused are history-sheeters and had befriended each other in various lock ups when they were lodged for petty crimes and offences earlier and today were a part of a large syndicate, said police.
The investigation also revealed Vaigankar’s involvement in a temple theft in Moira, under the Mapusa Police Station’s jurisdiction. A 17-year-old minor, originally from Maharashtra and residing in Mapusa, has been identified as an accomplice.
The investigation is ongoing, led by PI Rahul Parab, PSI Arun Shirodkar, and PSI Sachin Shirodkar, with supervision from Vishwesh Karpe, SDPO Porvorim, and SP North Akshat Kaushal.
