Applying this ingenious method, 29-year-old Pravin Rangole stole scooters of at least nine women who registered complaints with police. He would call out female two wheeler riders from the roadside with a shout that the rear wheel of the vehicle was " wobbling".
Posing as a mechanic he would halt the confused rider and pretend to tighten the nut-bolt and then take the scooter for a trial run leaving the owner waiting endlessly for him to return, police who booked Rangole yesterday, said.
The accused who was stealing in such manner for the last two months then used to abandon the vehicles in different parts of the city after searching for valuables in the dicky.
Police nabbed Rangole after tallying his description given by various complainants.
An alcoholic, the accused took to stealing after losing his job as a driver, police said, adding, that he targeted female scooterists anticipating least resistance.