Stolen Car Recovered After a Month in Kannur; Suspect Remanded

Kannur: A car stolen from a car wash centre in Kannur was recovered nearly a month later from Kasaragod, police said on Wednesday.

The vehicle was traced after it was found being driven with a fake registration number, following an alert from another car owner who noticed a vehicle bearing the same number as his own.

The red Swift car was stolen in the early hours of November 20 from a car wash centre at Pilathara. The thief, who arrived on a motorcycle, drove away with the car—a sequence captured on CCTV footage that later surfaced.

The vehicle belonged to a native of Naduvil and had been handed over to the car wash centre for painting work. Based on a complaint filed by the shop owner, the Pariyaram police launched an investigation and identified the suspect within a short period, though the car remained untraced for several weeks.

Breakthrough in Kasaragod

Police said the breakthrough came when a car owner in Kasaragod informed authorities after spotting another vehicle bearing the same registration number as his own. Upon inspection, the police found that the recovered car was running with a fake number plate.

Investigators said the accused, Ibrahim Badush, a native of Kanhangad, had stolen the vehicle, altered its registration number and sold it to another individual. The accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to identify others involved in the racket.

Separate Car Theft Case: Three Arrested

In a separate incident, police arrested three men, including the car owner’s driver, in connection with the theft of a vehicle worth approximately ₹11 lakh from a house compound in Kasaragod earlier this month.

The accused have been identified as Ramzan Sultan Basheer (25), a native of Moolapparamba currently residing in a rented quarters at Kalanad; Nachu (T.H.) alias Hamnas (24), also residing in a rented quarters at Moolapparamba; and P. Asharudheen (36) from Thenkara in Mannarkkad, Palakkad district.

The car, owned by Mohammed Mustafa of Izzath Nagar, Uliyathadukka, Madur, was stolen from his residence on December 1. Cash amounting to ₹32,000 kept inside the vehicle was also taken.

Police said the car was later traced within the Agali police station limits, following which a detailed investigation led to the arrest of the suspects.

Authorities said both cases highlight organised methods used in vehicle thefts, including number-plate manipulation and insider involvement, and warned vehicle owners and service centres to exercise greater caution.