Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested six members of a motorcycle theft gang that allegedly broke motorcycle locks within seconds using specially designed iron keys and recovered nine stolen motorcycles.
Two specially designed iron keys used to break the locks, nine stolen motorcycles
and an auto-rickshaw allegedly used in the thefts were also seized.
The stolen motorcycles were sent to Cumilla and Noakhali, where other gang members sold them when opportunities arose, according to the DB.
The arrestees are Rashedul Islam alias Rafiq alias Russell, 30, Amir Faisal alias Rabbi, 30, Faisal, 25, Sourav, 22, Jahangir Alam Pappu, 29, and Mozammel Haque Masum, 22.
DMP's Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday.
He said that on October 2, a man parked his motorcycle in front of Baitur Rahman Mosque on Salimullah Road in Mohammadpur and entered the mosque for Asr prayers.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, members of the gang used specially made iron keys to break the motorcycle's lock within seconds and fled with the vehicle.
After CCTV footage of the theft attracted widespread attention on social media, the incident came to the attention of the DB, Shafiqul said.
Subsequently, DB members conducted raids in Nandipara and Madartek areas under Sabujbagh Police Station and arrested Rashedul Islam alias Rafiq alias Russell along with two special keys and a stolen motorcycle.
Based on information provided by him, Amir Faisal alias Rabbi was arrested with another stolen motorcycle in front of Saddam Market in Jatrabari.
Shafiqul further said that, acting on information provided by the arrestees, DB teams conducted raids in Laksham upazila of Cumilla and recovered four stolen motorcycles, arresting Faisal and Sourav.
In separate raids in Chatkhil upazila of Noakhali, they recovered three more stolen motorcycles and arrested Jahangir Alam Pappu and Mozammel Haque Masum.
During preliminary interrogation, Russell and Rabbi told DB investigators that they stole motorcycles from different parts of the capital using the same method and supplied them to Faisal and Sourav in Laksham and Pappu and Masum in Chatkhil.
According to the DB, Russell has 15 cases filed against him over motorcycle theft, while Rabbi has seven theft cases.
A sentence warrant is also pending against Russell, while two case-related warrants remain pending against Rabbi.
Legal proceedings against the arrestees are underway, the DB official said.