Massive stolen vehicle racket uncovered

by Sarath Malalasekera

A special police team attached to the Wellawatta police yesterday uncovered a massive stolen vehicle racket following the arrest of four suspects who are involved in underworld activities.

Police warned the brand new vehicle owners, specially Dolphin vans, Double cabs and jeeps, to be vigilant when they come out from their residences in the night and returning home in the night hours.

The special police team deployed by Senior DIG Sirisena Herath and lead by Inspector Prasanna de Alwis recovered two motor cycles, one van, a double cab, gold jewellery stolen from a woman attorney at law of Mount Lavinia, two hand grenades, one .38 revolver with five live bullets and a modern shotgun from the possession of the suspects taken into custody.

Police investigations revealed that the stolen vehicles had been taken to the North and the East to sell to the LTTE organisation.

Police are also investigating to ascertain whether any officers of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles (RMV) are involved in the racket to assist the robbers. The four suspects alleged to have stolen these items from Maharagama, Piliyandala, Talangama, Homagama, Kohuwala and Athurugiriya police areas. Inspector Prasanna de Alwis said.

The four suspects now in remand custody are alleged to have involved in 13 cases of robberies in Colombo and its suburb Senior DIG Herath said.

The four suspects were later produced before the Additional Mount Lavinia Magistrate and remanded till May 17. ASP Bandula Wijewardena conducted the investigations assisted by Inspector Prasanna de Alwis, SI H. R. M. Hemachandra, Sergeants Alwis, Sisira, RPS Fernando and PC Kalubovila.