The Crime Branch has busted a gang of teenagers involved in a string of vehicle thefts which shed a light on the grim reality of how teenagers turn to crime in the absence of parental guidance, financial struggles, and limited access to education. This case is an example of the challenges faced by vulnerable youth navigating the complexities of urban life. Six teenagers, who often did bad things, lived on the edges of society, far from their homes. One of them, a 17-year-old from Kachipura, stopped going to school after Class 8. He played a big role in the gang’s activities. Even though he was young, he decided to rent a room in Pandhrabodi. The gang was shelling out Rs 1,000 per month as rent with each one contributing Rs 200. This place was like a secret home for the teens where they stayed for a few days each week and kept their things.

 

Out of six, Pravin Ramratan Sharma (19) was the only adult member of the gang. This shows that the group mostly consisted of minors. The minors, who had only studied up to Class 8 or 9, couldn’t continue education or find decent jobs because of money problems. The Kachipura resident, facing familial discord, sought refuge in the rented room. As the gang members were facing economic hardships, they resorted to stealing construction materials and selling them to scrap-dealers as a means of sustenance. But they really wanted motorcycles, so they started thinking about them a lot. This made them decide to steal two-wheelers that were parked near public gardens. Their modus operandi involved acquiring a key from a scrap dealer and trying it on parked motorcycles. After a month of attempts, they successfully started an Activa moped which led to a spree of eight motorcycle thefts. The stolen vehicles became their means of free movement around the city, particularly in areas like Futala lake.

 

The gang's criminal activities came to a halt when they targeted a Bajaj Platina two-wheeler belonging to Anil Shankar Bhave (54). Thanks to CCTV footage, the police quickly detained the entire gang, bringing an end to their illicit activities. During questioning, the minors revealed a stark reality of their lives. Because they were very poor and didn't get a good education, they started working at a minor age that was not good and got involved with the wrong group of friends. Since they couldn't go to school, they took up small jobs at pan shops and food stalls. But the little money they earned wasn't enough, so they ended up stealing things to make more money quickly. Under the guidance of DCP Detection Nimit Goyal, the arrest was made by PI Gajanan Tamte, API Gajanan Chambhare, and staff including Pravin Shelke, Kamlesh Ganer, Gajanan Kubde, Mahendra Sadmake, and Sandeep.