Police bust vehicle racket

Suspects rented vehicles, changed chassis and engine numbers:

A. Sumanasena, Kolonnawa group cor

The Western Province Police Intelligence Unit arrested a man and his assistant, a garage bass , who rented vehicles and then changed the chassis and engine numbers and sold them to unsuspecting customers.

Among the vehicles stolen by the suspects were cars, lorries and vans. The arrest was made after months of close surveillance.

The garage bass is from Kadawata. The two allegedly changed the number plates of the cars they stole and had been re-trading on such booty for years.

The Police acting on a tip-off, obtained information from the suspect in custody and found the vehicles stolen by him.

The suspect had used five different names in various parts of the country to carry out his transactions. Some vehicles stolen by him had also met with accidents.

The suspects changed the number plates and vehicle documents and obtained the help of another 10 people who provided information to steal or buy the vehicles.

Police said they took into custody 121 cars which included hybrid cars, vans and lorries.

Police said the main suspect used five different cell phones for communications and to make deals.

The Police team operated under the guidance and directive of Senior DIG Anura Senanayake who is in charge of the Intelligence Unit of the Western Province.

The team worked in collaboration with the Assistant Director of the Intelligence Unit ASP P.R.P. Senanayake, OIC Intelligence Unit, Prasanne Brakmanage and Colombo South OIC IP Lakshman Silva.