8 members of motorcycle theft gang arrested, 13 stolen vehicles recovered in Markapuram district

Police on Friday (August 14, 2026) arrested an eight-member inter-district motorcycle theft gang and recovered 13 two-wheelers worth approximately ₹17 lakh. They reportedly stole bikes from across Cumbum, Bestavaripeta, Markapuram, Kavali Rural (Nellore district), Vetapalem (Bapatla district), and Kondandapuram (Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana).

Markapuram district SP V. Harshavardhan Raju after recent motorcycle thefts in these areas, issued specific directives on the investigation. Acting on his instructions, a joint team was formed and apprehended eight members of the gang, while attempting to sell stolen vehicles after altering their number plates at Y-junction in Cumbum village on Friday.

The accused were identified as Pasuleti Rasul, Battula Srihari, Battula Srinu, Anneboyina Akhil Kumar, Sriram Prasanna Kumar, and Dudekula Babu from Bestavaripeta, and Juturi Emmanuel and

The accused were friends, who became addicted to alcohol and other vices. With the aim of making easy money, they decided to steal motorcycles.

Targeting the parked motorcycles, they broke the side locks, pushed the vehicles a short distance, hot-wired them, and rode off. Subsequently, they hid the stolen vehicles in Bestavaripeta, Dattakonda, and Markapuram. The investigation revealed that 13 motorcycles were stolen from various locations between February 4, 2026, and August 13, 2026.