Omni van stealers busted, 6 vans recovered in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: A gang of three vehicle lifters, with a peculiar fixation on Maruti Suzuki Omni vans, has been arrested by Vidyaranyapura police. They have recovered six stolen vans valued at about Rs 12 lakh.

The arrested are Umesh alias Ananda alias Subbu (40), a resident of Abbigere and worker at tyre puncture repair shop; Tabrez Khan alias Sahil (19), a two-wheeler mechanic from Rainbow Layout in Vidyaranyapura; and Jabi Khan alias Jabin (32), who runs a car garage and is from Tumakuru. Police said Umesh, a habitual offender with a long criminal record for organised vehicle thefts since 2004, led the trio.

The trio specialised in stealing Omni vans, mostly during night, and selling them in rural areas for prices ranging from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh.