Surat : The city crime branch has busted a car theft racket and seized two SUVs, uncovering a modus operandi involving tampering with chassis numbers and number plates of scrapped vehicles.According to police, one of the seized vehicles was stolen from Ankleshwar four days ago, while the other carried the chassis number and registration of another stolen car.Deputy commissioner of police Bhavesh Rojiya said the accused, identified as Sanjay Movaliya, was arrested during a raid at a garage in Kabilpore area of Navsari. “He initially claimed the vehicles were kept for servicing, but verification revealed one car was recently stolen from Ankleshwar. The second vehicle was also stolen but had forged chassis and registration details,” he said.Police said Movaliya, along with his brother Atul, is suspected to have been involved in at least 15 car thefts, pointing to a larger luxury car theft racket.Investigations revealed that the accused would purchase scrapped cars at low prices and use their chassis numbers, number plates and registration documents to mask stolen vehicles. These cars were then sold at high profits, as the altered identities made them appear legitimate.
