Three persons, who allegedly sold stolen cars by using chassis and engine numbers of vehicles damaged in accidents, were arrested by Azad Maidan police, an official said today.
The arrested persons used to buy these damaged vehicles from insurance companies, the Mumbai police official added.
Garage owner Hafizul Jafri (40), mechanics Shamim Ahmed Ansari (36) and Sannam Khan (22) were arrested after police raided Adnan Motor Garage in Shilphata-Mahape road in Mumbra township in neighbouring Thane district, Manojkumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 1, told reporters here.
The accused used to sell stolen cars by replacing their number plate, chassis and engine numbers after purchasing vehicles, totally damaged in accidents, from insurance companies, Sharma said.
They would then steal vehicles of the same make and colour as the ones damaged in accidents, Sharma said.
The number plate, chassis and engine numbers of the damaged vehicles would then be used on the stolen ones and the latter used to be sold, Sharma explained.
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Cars, valued cumulatively at Rs 23.50 lakh, along with aluminium plates with chassis numbers embossed on them, have been recovered from the arrested persons, he said.
These cars have been stolen from areas in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, he said.
The official said that the gang had earlier committed offences at Mulund, Rabale and Kalamboli areas.