Himalayan News Service

Lucknow, January 13:

When police here received a tip-off about a car theft racket, they could scarcely believe their ears. The master thief was a boy of 12! Little Aniket, alias Pappu, the alleged leader of the gang, was caught red-handed when police laid a trap.

“We left a Maruti van on the roadside in the Nishatganj area while our plainclothesmen were put on watch,” Mahanagar police circle officer Ajay Shankar Rai said. “Within an hour, a well-dressed young boy walked up to the vehicle and with one stroke opened the locked door. But he was not able to start the vehicle as we had deliberately left it with an empty fuel tank.

“The boy left only to return with a grown up companion, carrying a can of petrol. Just as he sat behind the wheels once again to start the vehicle, our men got into action and took him into custody,” he added. Pappu is the son of a small-time railway employee, police said. “On interrogation, he gave out the names of his accomplices who are all far older than him. A bunch of master keys for different cars was also recovered from his house,” Rai said.

Pappu began his career at eight as an assistant mechanic in an auto workshop. He allegedly made his debut as a thief by stealing a car stereo. His success with stealing car accessories gave him the confidence to recruit others to form a gang, police said.