Bhubaneswar, Aug. 2: Police today arrested a 22-year-old youth, who used to rent out his motorcycle to snatchers.

The accused has been identified as Sambhunath Dash. Besides, a snatcher, named Pradip Nayak, was also arrested on charge of trying to snatch a gold chain from a woman near Shastri Nagar on Monday.

The police said Dash had been renting out his Pulsar motorcycle to several snatchers and thieves for Rs 1,000 for six hours.

"The accused said he had earned Rs 10,000 in July through this scheme. The snatchers used to reverse the registration plate of the motorcycle and commit crimes across the city. We are trying to nab the three other members of the gang," said a police officer.

The police said the gang members used to commit crimes using rented motorcycles to avoid arousing the suspicion of the cops. "They used to return the motorcycle to its original owner with the number plate in the original position," said an officer.

The promise of easy money was luring several youths into renting out their motorcycles to members of these gangs. "These youths are getting thousands of rupees for renting out their motorcycles for a few hours. So, they don't bother about the trouble they are inviting. This is a criminal offence, and such motorcycle owners will be prosecuted according to the provision of law," said the officer.

The cops also advised youths to not allow criminals to take their motorcycles on rent - even if they were their friends - under any circumstances. Last month, a college student had borrowed his friend's motorcycle and later ended up hitting a student of Rama Devi Women's University. "Had the girl died, the bike rider, along with its owner who was not at all aware of the incident, would have been arrested. So, the vehicle owners should accompany the rider in case anyone borrows it," he said.

Woman arrested

Capital Police on Wednesday arrested a 25-year-old woman for decamping with a mobile phone and Rs 2,500 in cash from a man who offered her a lift on his motorcycle near PMG Square yesterday. The cops have also recovered the mobile phone and cash from the accused.

The police said the complainant helped her after she asked for a lift to Rajmahal Square. "However after a few metres, she threatened that she would implicate him in a rape case and decamped with the phone and cash," said a cop.