Visakhapatnam city police on Tuesday arrested two persons who were notorious for stealing bikes in the city and in Vizianagaram, Srikakulam districts for the last few years. The two men were identified as Tammineni Mahesh (26) and Gandi Asha Raju (22). They later confessed to their crime by using fake altered /duplicate keys.

The duo were caught by a special crime investigation team headed by Additional DCP (Crime) Suresh Babu, Central Crime Station ACP D Surya Sravan Kumar, PM Palem CI (Crime) B Srinivasa Rao among others.

Addressing the media, City Commissioner of police (CoP) RK Meena briefed that the duo were caught while the special team was investigating a nearly two-year old bike theft case that was registered in PM Palem. Venkataramana of Chandrapalem in Maduravada limits had complained to the police two years ago about his missing bike in PM Palem limits.

Meena said, "The duo were found in suspicious circumstances at city's Carshed junction, they both have confessed to have stolen the bikes by using duplicate keys in a probe after taking them into custody."

He added, "Among the 26 bikes that were stolen, three are from Visakhapatnam, five from Vizianagaram, while 18 are from Srikakulam district."

Commissioner further said that all the 26 two-wheelers have been recovered, including three which were sold. Police have sent the duo to judicial remand. The CoP appreciated the team for nabbing the thieves.

Earlier in September this year, police had arrested a person who worked as a garage assistant at Parawada for stealing two-wheelers from different places in AP and Telangana. Police recovered 130 bikes, 30 boxes of spare parts, fake number plates and duplicate keys, Rs 90,000 in cash along with land document.