PANCHKULA, March 18 — Panchkula police have arrested a notorious bike thief allegedly involved in stealing 16 motorcycles across the city. The accused, Gurvinder Singh, 40, a resident of Jagadhri, Yamunanagar, was caught by two patrolling policemen in Sector 11 on Monday.
The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by Banshi Lal, a salesman, at the Sector 10 police post on March 9. He reported that his motorcycle was stolen from outside a shop in Sector 11. CCTV footage helped police identify a suspect, leading to heightened surveillance and Singh’s arrest on March 17.
During questioning, police found that Singh, a drug addict and former laborer, targeted crowded marketplaces, road intersections, and residential areas. He stole motorcycles left unattended for long periods, especially high-demand models like Splendor, Passion Pro, HF Deluxe, and Discover.
The accused used duplicate keys and crude tools to unlock bikes, sometimes breaking the locks altogether. He operated without a fixed base, frequently moving between Panchkula, Majri Chowk, and Zirakpur to avoid detection. The stolen bikes were either sold to scrap dealers, used for illegal activities, or dismantled for parts.
Police records show multiple FIRs against Singh, including seven at the Sector 5 police station, four at Sector 20, two at Sector 14, and one each at Sector 7 and Chandimandir.
The police secured a one-day remand to recover the stolen bikes and investigate any additional crimes.
Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Himadri Kaushik said police patrolling would be stepped up with 25 riders and 18 emergency response vehicles (ERVs) monitoring public areas. “Strict action will be taken against vehicles without number plates and those violating traffic rules, including triple riding,” she added.
