Photographer stole bikes for passion, not for profit

Hyderabad: A photographer, Thumma Aditya, who was arrested on Friday for stealing two-wheelers has confessed that he took to the crime because of his passion for bikes and not to make money, Chilkalguda police said on Saturday.

Since he could not afford one, Aditya started stealing two-wheelers, police alleged. In all, Aditya was accused of stealing seven bikes. Police said he would abandon bikes once they ran out of fuel.

Aditya needed a two-wheeler as he was required to quickly move to different venues as a photographer, police said.  Since he did not have the money to purchase one, he would borrow his friend’s two-wheeler.

At other times, he would  steal any bike that caught his fancy. It was one such outing that led to his arrest. Police received a report of a two-wheeler stolen from a bike servicing centre at Chilkalguda.

While examining the scene, police found a scooter parked near the spot. On examining CCTV footage from the spot, police noticed a person  speeding away on the stolen bike. Further checking showed that the man had come on the scooter that was parked nearby. Following this, police analysed footage from over 70 CCTV cameras as they tracked the movement of the stolen two-wheeler.

They finally found the stolen bike abandoned beside the road. CCTV footage then showed the suspect entering a lane. Police went to the spot and arrested him.

Police recovered seven bikes worth Rs10 lakh that were parked at separate locations under the Bachupally, Jeedimetla and Madhapur police station limits.
Aditya told the police that he would steal and use a bike till it ran out of fuel and the abandon it. He stole seven bikes in six months but did not sell any of them, he said.