Police arrest couple for stealing pickup truck carrying tomatoes, find abandoned vehicle

BENGALURU: The RMC Yard police have arrested a couple who had stolen a tomato-loaded Mahindra Bolero pickup vehicle on July 10.

The accused stole the vehicle in Bengaluru and then transported the tomatoes to Chennai where they sold it. Later, they left the vehicle near Peenya and fled the place.

The police were on the lookout for the tomato thieves for the last 11 days. After selling the tomatoes, the abandoned the vehicle near Peenya and escaped in another vehicle with no registration number plates.

On July 10, a farmer brought a load of tomatoes from Chitradurga to the RMC yard. The thieves decamped with the pickup truck, which was carrying two tons of tomatoes.

Three of the accused followed the pickup truck in a car, stopped near the RMC yard and shouted at the farmer. Suddenly, they got into an argument, saying that the pickup had hit their car, assaulted the farmer and threatened them for money. After the farmer transferred money to his account online and stole the vehicle.

The arrested accused are Bhaskar and his wife Sindhuja. Their accomplices Rocky, Mahesh and Kumar are still absconding. Police said the tomato theft was planned at Rocky’s house.