Ahmedabad LCB busts inter-state bike theft gang; 3 held, 15 motorcycles recovered
Synopsis
An inter-state motorcycle theft gang that allegedly stole bikes across Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha, and two Rajasthan districts — then abandoned them after use — has been cracked open by Ahmedabad's LCB Zone-4. Three arrests, 15 bikes worth ₹4.50 lakh recovered, and 11 cases detected: the operation exposes a cross-border racket that ran undetected since 2023.
Key Takeaways
LCB Zone-4 of Ahmedabad City Police arrested three persons , including a juvenile, in connection with an inter-state motorcycle theft racket.
A total of 15 stolen motorcycles valued at approximately ₹4.50 lakh were recovered across two operations.
The gang operated across Ahmedabad city , Sabarkantha district , and districts in Rajasthan (Salumbar and Jalore).
Accused Ranjitsinh Rathod and Lalitkumar Meena , both from Salumbar district, Rajasthan, were detained from Meghaninagar on 26 June .
Investigators have detected 11 vehicle theft cases linked to the gang, which allegedly operated since 2023 .
The investigation is ongoing to trace additional associates and any further stolen property.
The Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-4 of the Ahmedabad City Police has dismantled an inter-state motorcycle theft racket that operated across Ahmedabad city, Sabarkantha district, and parts of Rajasthan, resulting in the arrest of three persons, the recovery of 15 stolen motorcycles, and the detection of 11 vehicle theft cases registered at police stations across the region.
How the Operation Unfolded
The crackdown began on 29 March when an LCB Zone-4 patrol team, operating under the supervision of PSI S.M. Patel, acted on specific intelligence in the Naroda Police Station area. A juvenile was apprehended during this initial operation, and seven stolen motorcycles were seized from his possession.
Those seven vehicles included five motorcycles stolen from the Naroda, Krishnanagar, Shaherkotda, and Bapunagar areas of Ahmedabad city, one from Himmatnagar 'A' Division in Sabarkantha, and one from the Jhallara Police Station area in Salumbar district, Rajasthan. Their combined value was estimated at approximately ₹1.85 lakh.
Two More Accused Detained
Subsequent investigation identified two associates as wanted in connection with the thefts — Ranjitsinh Rathod and Lalitkumar Meena, both residents of Salumbar district in Rajasthan. On 26 June, the LCB Zone-4 team detained both accused from the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad based on credible intelligence gathered during ongoing surveillance.
During interrogation, the two accused led investigators to eight additional stolen motorcycles. These comprised six bikes stolen from the Shahibaug, Meghaninagar, Madhavpura, Krishnanagar, and Bapunagar police station areas of Ahmedabad city, one from Himmatnagar 'B' Division in Sabarkantha, and one from the Ahor Police Station area in Jalore district, Rajasthan. The value of these vehicles was estimated at approximately ₹2.65 lakh.
Modus Operandi
According to investigators, the accused have allegedly been involved in theft activities since 2023, operating in conjunction with the juvenile apprehended earlier. The gang members reportedly travelled to Ahmedabad periodically for labour work and used stolen motorcycles for short-term commuting before abandoning them in secluded locations and repeating the cycle with freshly stolen vehicles.
The pattern — steal, use, abandon, repeat — allowed the racket to evade detection for an extended period while spanning multiple police jurisdictions across two states.
Investigation Status
With both recoveries combined, the total haul stands at 15 stolen motorcycles valued at roughly ₹4.50 lakh, and investigators have linked the accused to 11 vehicle theft cases across Ahmedabad city and stations outside Gujarat. The LCB Zone-4 has stated that the investigation is continuing to identify additional associates and determine whether the accused are connected to other pending theft cases or unreturned stolen property.
Point of View
Making detection slow and coordination costly. The gang's modus operandi — steal, use briefly, abandon, repeat — is deliberately low-profile, designed to avoid the kind of fencing activity that typically draws police attention. Eleven cases detected across two states from a single juvenile's arrest suggests the original intelligence was sharper than average; the question now is whether the probe extends to the supply chain of buyers or remains confined to the three in custody.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What inter-state motorcycle theft gang was busted in Ahmedabad?
The Local Crime Branch Zone-4 of Ahmedabad City Police dismantled a cross-state motorcycle theft racket operating across Ahmedabad, Sabarkantha district, and districts in Rajasthan. Three persons — including a juvenile — were arrested, and 15 stolen motorcycles worth approximately ₹4.50 lakh were recovered.
Who are the accused arrested in the Ahmedabad bike theft case?
The two adult accused are Ranjitsinh Rathod and Lalitkumar Meena, both residents of Salumbar district in Rajasthan. They were detained from the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad on 26 June. A juvenile was apprehended separately in an earlier operation on 29 March.
How many motorcycles were recovered and what was their value?
A total of 15 stolen motorcycles were recovered across two operations — 7 in the first phase (valued at approximately ₹1.85 lakh) and 8 in the second (valued at approximately ₹2.65 lakh), bringing the combined estimated value to around ₹4.50 lakh.
How did the motorcycle theft gang operate?
According to investigators, the gang allegedly travelled to Ahmedabad for labour work and stole motorcycles for short-term commuting use. After using a bike, they abandoned it in a secluded area and stole another — a cycle reportedly repeated since 2023 across multiple police jurisdictions.
How many theft cases have been detected so far?
Investigators have detected 11 vehicle theft cases linked to the gang, spanning police stations across Ahmedabad city and outside Gujarat. The LCB Zone-4 has said the investigation is continuing to identify additional associates and any further stolen property.
