Cars left wheel-less in minutes: Gurugram cops crack theft racket, seize 53 tyres

Residents of Gurugram's housing societies were left stunned as cars parked safely outside homes and on roadsides were found resting on jacks and bricks by morning, their tyres and rims having vanished overnight. What appeared to be a string of mysterious thefts has now led to the busting of an alleged tyre theft racket that police say operated with remarkable speed and precision across the city.

In a major breakthrough, Gurugram Police's Crime Branch unit in Manesar has arrested two accused and recovered a huge cache of stolen vehicle parts, including 53 tyres, eight rims, eight alloy wheels, a jack and cash. Investigators claim the gang used stolen cars to scout targets before stripping parked vehicles of their wheels within minutes and disappearing into the night.

The arrested accused have been identified as Sagar, 28, a resident of Shakti Park in Gurugram, and Naveen, 35, a resident of Ujina village in Nuh district.

ONE STOLEN SET OF TYRES EXPOSED A BIGGER RACKET

The case that cracked open the operation began on May 9, 2026, when the owner of a car parked on a service lane outside MRG Balcony Society in Sector 93 woke up to a shocking sight.

The vehicle's four tyres and rims had disappeared overnight.

The complaint led to the registration of a case at Sector 10 Police Station, following which the Crime Branch team launched an investigation.

What initially appeared to be a routine theft soon revealed signs of a much larger and organised network targeting vehicles across Gurugram.

GANG ALLEGEDLY STRUCK IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT

Police investigations revealed a carefully planned operation.

According to investigators, the gang would first travel in stolen cars and conduct reconnaissance in upscale residential societies and isolated stretches of road where vehicles remained parked for long periods.

Once a target was identified, the accused allegedly moved swiftly into action.

Using a jack, they would lift the vehicle, remove all four tyres along with the rims and flee before anyone noticed.

Police believe the gang could strip a vehicle of its wheels in just a few minutes, leaving owners to discover the theft only after sunrise.

The speed of the operation allowed the accused to repeatedly strike without attracting attention.

ARRESTS AFTER WEEKS OF TRACKING

Following sustained surveillance and investigation, Crime Branch officers arrested Sagar from Shakti Park on May 26.

During questioning, police uncovered the alleged network through which the stolen tyres were being disposed of.

The trail led investigators to Naveen, who was arrested from the NH-8 service road on May 27.

Police claim Naveen purchased the stolen tyres and rims at throwaway prices before storing or reselling them.

16 THEFTS CONFESSED

The interrogation of the accused opened up a long trail of alleged crimes.

According to police, Sagar admitted to involvement in 16 separate tyre theft cases across Gurugram.

Investigators are now examining whether the gang was responsible for additional unsolved thefts reported from residential societies and roadside parking areas in recent months.

The confession has raised concerns about how extensively the gang may have operated before being caught.

MASSIVE HAUL RECOVERED

The two accused were taken into three days of police remand.

During the remand period, investigators recovered what police described as a substantial stockpile of stolen vehicle parts.

The recovery included 53 tyres belonging to different vehicles, eight rims, eight alloy wheels, one jack and 600 in cash.

Police estimate the recovered property to be worth several lakh rupees.

Efforts are now underway to identify the owners of the recovered tyres and return the stolen property.

TYRES SOLD FOR A FRACTION OF THEIR VALUE

Investigators said the stolen tyres were allegedly sold to Naveen for as little as 1,500 to 2,000 per tyre.

The prices were far below market value, allowing the gang to quickly dispose of stolen goods and generate cash before moving on to the next target.

Police suspect the racket may have had a wider network involved in buying and selling stolen automobile parts.

HUNT ON FOR OTHER MEMBERS

While the arrests have dealt a significant blow to the alleged racket, investigators believe other members remain at large.

Police are now working to identify and trace those who may have helped carry out the thefts, scout locations and dispose of the stolen property.

With 16 thefts already linked to the gang and a massive recovery made, officers believe the operation may have prevented further incidents that had left vehicle owners across Gurugram waking up to the same unsettling sight — cars standing helplessly without their wheels.