Key copy, GPS tricks & desert network: How BTech-MBA graduate stole luxury SUVs

A stolen Toyota Fortuner worth Rs 35 lakh travelled from a hotel parking lot in Singasandra, near Electronics City, to a remote desert area near the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, exposing an alleged interstate luxury car theft network involving sophisticated gadgets, duplicate keys, and links to criminals operating along the border.

Parappana Agrahara police have arrested Satendra Singh Shekhawat, 45, a Jaipur resident, and his girlfriend, Pramila Takur, 25, from Chhattarpur in Delhi in connection with the theft.

The theft occurred on June 27, when Muttu Subramanian, 28, from Chennai, woke up to find his Toyota Fortuner missing from the parking lot of a hotel on Hosur Road. He had arrived in Bengaluru a day earlier for a weekend trip and driven out around 9.30pm to watch a movie. Returning around 1.30am, he parked and locked the SUV before retiring to his room. By morning, the vehicle had vanished.

The owner approached Parappana Agrahara police, who registered a theft case and began tracking the suspects. Their investigation led them to the Belagavi-Pune national highway near Karad, Maharashtra, on July 4.

When a police team led by inspector Naveen Kumar PG moved to intercept them, Satendra allegedly fled in the stolen SUV.

Pramila was caught and taken into custody. During questioning, she allegedly admitted that the duo had been stealing high-end cars and selling them to make a quick buck. She was arrested and remanded in judicial custody.

With Satendra still absconding, police formed a special team to track him down. Acting on credible information, the team arrested him near Silk Board on July 17.

High-tech theft method

During interrogation, police uncovered Satendra’s sophisticated method of stealing luxury cars.

A BTech and MBA graduate, Satendra allegedly learnt the techniques online. He is said to have used specialised gadgets to decode key patterns and GPS systems of high-end vehicles, then made duplicate keys using machinery.

Police said he would visit Bengaluru alone or with Pramila and scout for vehicles at service centres. He allegedly enlisted the help of service-centre employees in some cases, while in others, he would secretly enter the premises and install devices in vehicles.

The gadgets allegedly enabled Satendra to read a vehicle’s key pattern, which he then used to make a duplicate key. After fitting the vehicle with a tracking device, he allegedly monitored its location through GPS. Once he identified where it was parked, he would travel to the spot, drive it away using the duplicate key, and replace the number plates before taking it to Rajasthan.

Sold in the desert

Police said the stolen vehicles were taken to Rajasthan and sold to contacts in Barmer and other desert areas. Following Satendra’s confession, the Fortuner stolen from Singasandra was traced to Aleti village in Barmer district and recovered on July 24 from a desert area near the Indo-Pak border.

A senior police officer said Satendra sold stolen luxury vehicles to members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and drug peddlers in the border region, often at throwaway prices. The proceeds were allegedly used to fund his lavish lifestyle.

Police said Satendra has a long criminal history, with 51 cases registered against him across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. He had allegedly been arrested by Amruthahalli police and agencies in other states, but continued his activities after securing bail, police said.

Investigators are now trying to identify other members of the network who allegedly helped modify, transport, and dispose of the stolen vehicles.

Source: The Times of India