Motorcycle Theft Ring Dismantled: 8 Arrested, 13 Vehicles Recovered in Markapuram

Authorities in Markapuram district have apprehended an eight-member gang involved in inter-district motorcycle thefts. The arrests, made on Friday, August 14, 2026, also resulted in the recovery of 13 stolen motorcycles estimated to be worth ₹17 lakh.

The gang is believed to have stolen vehicles from various locations including Cumbum, Bestavaripeta, Markapuram, Kavali Rural in Nellore district, Vetapalem in Bapatla district, and Kondandapuram in Telangana's Jogulamba Gadwal district. The operation followed specific directives from Markapuram District Superintendent of Police V. Harshavardhan Raju, who initiated an investigation into recent thefts.

A joint police team apprehended the eight accused individuals at Y-junction in Cumbum village as they were reportedly attempting to alter the number plates of the stolen vehicles before selling them. The accused, identified as Pasuleti Rasul, Battula Srihari, Battula Srinu, Anneboyina Akhil Kumar, Sriram Prasanna Kumar, and Dudekula Babu from Bestavaripeta, along with Juturi Emmanuel and another individual, were described as friends who turned to theft to fund addictions.

The modus operandi involved targeting parked motorcycles, breaking their locks, hot-wiring them, and subsequently hiding the stolen vehicles in areas such as Bestavaripeta, Dattakonda, and Markapuram. Investigations indicate that the 13 motorcycles were stolen between February 4, 2026, and August 13, 2026.