Paradip, July 7: Police busted an inter-district gang of bike thieves today and seized over a dozen stolen motorbikes from Jagatsinghpur town.

The seven-member gang had been stealing several bikes and had become a headache for the local police.

Those arrested have a history of crime. They used to lift motorbikes from deserted spots. Besides Jagatsinghpur and Paradip, the racket used to operate in places such as Cuttack, Kendrapara, Salipur, Nishintakoli and Tirtol.

“Of the 13 stolen bikes recovered, most were lifted from Jagatsinghpur. Investigations have revealed that the gang was either involved in lifting around 50 motorbikes in the past four months. We are hopeful of recovering more bikes,” said inspector in charge of Jagatsinghpur police station Sanjeev Mohanty.

The gang members would keep close watch on the movement of the owners before breaking open the lock and fleeing with their vehicles. “People who were in a hurry at places such as hospitals and bus stands were their easy targets,” Mohanty said.

The thieves were booked under sections 379, 411, 34 of the Indian Penal Code and later remanded in judicial custody.