Agra: A high-tech car thief who allegedly stole a luxury SUV within two minutes by unlocking it through software has been arrested by police in Mathura. The accused is linked to a Maharashtra-based vehicle theft gang. During interrogation, he revealed that the gang used electronic devices and laptops to bypass advanced locking systems and sell stolen vehicles worth ₹30 lakh for nearly half the price. Police are now searching for five other accused, including the alleged kingpin Adil.
According to police officials, businessman Pulkit Bansal, a resident of Jaipur House in Agra, had parked his Toyota Fortuner outside his residence on the night of February 17 due to limited space inside his home. The vehicle was stolen during the night.
After receiving the complaint, police scanned CCTV footage from the area. The footage showed a car arriving at around 2 a.m. No one stepped out visibly, but within two minutes, a युवक unlocked the SUV and drove away. Investigators later found that the accused had used a Wi-Fi-enabled electronic device to connect to the vehicle’s electronic system and bypass its locking mechanism.
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Escaped Through Rural Routes Toward Mathura
Based on CCTV footage and surveillance inputs, police traced the vehicle’s movement through Bichpuri, Achhnera, and Mogarra village routes toward Mathura. To avoid detection, the accused avoided toll plazas and chose rural roads.
In Mathura, the stolen SUV reportedly stalled. The vehicle did not have a GPS tracking system installed. Meanwhile, the accused called a private recovery van to transport the SUV to Gurugram. Acting swiftly, police teams tracked the suspects and surrounded them. While two accomplices managed to escape in another car, the main accused was arrested on the spot. The stolen SUV was also recovered.
Luxury Cars Sold at Half Price
The arrested accused has been identified as Rizwan Zia Ullah Khan, a resident of Kaveri Building in Panvel, Raigad district of Maharashtra. Police recovered two keys and a mobile phone from his possession.
During questioning, he disclosed that he committed the theft along with his associates — Pushpendra and Bittu from Agra, and Adil and Pintu from Maharashtra, along with another unidentified accomplice.
Police claim the gang has stolen more than 15 luxury vehicles across Haryana, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The gang allegedly used electronic devices to bypass lock systems and start the vehicles. Cars valued at around ₹30 lakh were reportedly sold for ₹15–16 lakh using forged documents prepared through a fake company set up for vehicle transactions.
Links to Cyber Fraud
Police officials further stated that the accused had previously been jailed in a vehicle theft case and was also involved in cyber fraud activities in Kerala. He had been associated with the vehicle theft gang for the past six months. When cyber fraud operations did not yield profits, he allegedly engaged in on-demand luxury car theft.
Authorities say the proceeds from selling stolen vehicles were distributed among gang members and spent on a lavish lifestyle.
Advisory for Vehicle Owners
Police have urged owners of luxury vehicles to install additional security systems such as steering locks and GPS trackers. They also advised parking vehicles in CCTV-monitored areas and immediately reporting suspicious activity.
The incident highlights the growing use of advanced technology in vehicle theft, raising fresh concerns about automobile security systems. Police have stated that efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused and dismantle the entire network.
