A man who had allegedly stolen a delivery man’s electric cycle from in front of a store that sells household items was arrested when he was apparently trying to steal another two-wheeler from in front of the same outlet.
Police identified the man — Shankar Gayen, 35 — from the blue shirt which he was wearing on both occasions.
The e-cycle was stolen from outside the store in New Alipore, near the Majerhat bridge, on April 3.
After receiving a complaint, the police scanned CCTV footage and learnt that the e-cycle was stolen by a man wearing a blue shirt around 1.30pm.
“From the pattern of the theft, we suspected that he might come again as many two-wheelers remain parked outside the store, even till late at night. The person’s face was not clear in the footage but his shirt was,” said an officer at New Alipore police station.
The space in front of outlets from where aggregators collect food and other items often remains packed with parked two-wheelers of delivery personnel.
“Such areas are vulnerable to theft. Delivery persons should be cautious with their vehicles,” an officer said.
A few officers in plainclothes were deployed to keep a watch on the spot.
On Saturday night, a man, wearing a blue shirt similar to the one seen in the CCTV footage, was seen sitting near the store, the police said.
“He was sitting there for a very long time, inspecting all delivery men who were coming and leaving. Our team, too, was watching him,” the officer said.
Close to midnight, the man tried to make a move and was heading towards one of the parked two-wheelers when the cops closed in on him.
He was detained and taken to New Alipore police station.
“Based on his statements, the stolen e-cycle was recovered from Maheshtala, where the accused lives,” the officer said.
Gayen, who has been charged with theft, was produced in court on Sunday.
“We are checking whether Gayen was involved in other criminal cases,” the officer said.