Pune: Notorious Vehicle Thief Arrested In Pimpri-Chinchwad; Police Crack Four CasesÂ
Pune: Notorious Vehicle Thief Arrested In Pimpri-Chinchwad; Police Crack Four CasesÂ
Pimpri-Chinchwad, October 10, 2025:Â The Pimpri-Chinchwad Police have arrested a habitual vehicle thief, solving four pending theft cases registered across the city. The operation was carried out by Unit 1 of the Crime Branch as part of intensified efforts to curb the rising number of vehicle thefts.
The accused has been identified as Raj alias Dhekrya Santosh Bapardekar (22), a resident of Chikhali. Police said he has a criminal background and several previous cases registered against him.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Dr Shivaji Pawar informed that the Crime Branch team, led by Senior Police Inspector Vinod Patil, began investigating a surge in vehicle thefts in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region. During surveillance and analysis of CCTV footage, Bapardekar’s movements were traced. He was soon detained and, upon interrogation, confessed to committing four separate thefts along with two minor accomplices.
The four solved cases were registered at Sant Tukaram Nagar, MIDC Bhosari, Chikhali, and Chakan Police Stations. In addition, five earlier cases had already been filed against Bapardekar at Chikhali and Pimpri Police Stations.
Recovered stolen vehicles have been seized, and further investigations are underway to determine whether the accused is linked to other thefts in the region.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Commissioner of Police Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Joint Commissioner Dr Shashikant Mahavarkar, Additional CP Sarang Awad, DCP Dr Shivaji Pawar, and ACP Dr Vishal Hire.
The Unit 1 team that executed the operation included API Dattatraya Gulig and constables Balasaheb Garje, Ganesh Mahadik, Somnath Borhade, Mahadev Jawale, Shivram Bhope, Shridhan Ichake, Balasaheb Bhangale, Amol Vetal, Ajit Rupanwar, Tushar Warade, Swapnil Mahale, and Dilip Rathod.
Police said the arrest has not only solved multiple theft cases but also served as a deterrent to others involved in vehicle-related crimes in the city.
