Posing as mechanic, man dupes women two-wheeler riders

A conman claiming to be a two-wheeler mechanic went on an apparent scooter stealing spree in the city on Sunday, carefully choosing his targets.

Police said the accused took away scooters from at least four women with the motive of stealing valuables kept in the boot. Two of them have lodged complaints with the police.

In the first incident, 31-year-old Rupali Shrinivas Munje of Budhwar Peth has lodged a complaint against an unidentified person at the Vishrambag police station. Police said Munje was going to her workplace from her home on a scooter. She stopped at the traffic junction at Appa Balwant Chowk around 9 am, when a man on a two- wheeler approached her from behind.

He told Munje that the rear wheel of her scooter was wobbling as the nut bolt had become loose, police said, adding that the man said she might meet with an accident if the nut bolt was not tightened. Claiming that he was a vehicle mechanic, he said he would do the needful, said the police.

Munje trusted him and handed him over her scooter worth Rs 30,500. The police said the man then acted as if he had repaired the wheel and took the scooter for a test ride for checking if it was fine, only to never come back, though he had left his two-wheeler at the spot. Munje's wallet, apart from other valuables, was kept in the boot of the scooter. Sub-Inspector P P Kirdat is investigating the case.

In a similar incident, an unidentified person cheated 30-year-old Bhavna Yogesh Bhandari of Unnati Housing Society, Kondhwa. The modus operandi in this case, too, was similar. The incident took place in Gultekdi area. She has lodged a complaint with the Swargate police. Sub-Inspector A B Koli is investigating.

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