India, Feb. 16 -- A 47-year-old habitual car thief, accused in 53 alleged four-wheeler theft cases across Maharashtra, was arrested from Thane by the Virar Crime Branch on Saturday.

The accused, Mohammad Taufeek Habibullah, a native of Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, was residing in Palava City in Kalyan, Thane. He allegedly stole parked vehicles in seconds without setting off their alarm systems. Police also arrested Virendra Sitarambhai Sharma, 38, for allegedly purchasing a stolen vehicle from him.

The arrests follow the theft of a white Maruti Suzuki Swift stolen from near Tulip Deep Garden in Chheda Nagar, Nalasopara West between January 21 and January 23, 2026. A case was registered at Nalasopara police station under Section 303(2) of ...