MUMBAI, Dec. 2 -- The Vanrai police on Sunday busted a gang that used to steal autorickshaws during the day and commit robberies at night using the same autorickshaws, to avoid being identified by cops. Three members of the alleged gang, who were arrested from Virar, were habitual offenders and were involved in at least three autorickshaw thefts and two house break-ins, police said. The arrested accused were identified as Sachin Ashok Gavas, Yogesh Ishwar Rathod and Taufiq Naushad Khan. Police started probing the activities of the alleged gang after an iron rod weighing 130 kilos was stolen from a shop in Goregaon East on November 18. Additional commissioner of police Shashi Kumar Meena and deputy commissioner of police Mahesh Chimte also took serious note of the recent spike in theft and burglary cases in the area and ordered the local police to undertake a special operation. While examining CCTV footage of the house robbery case, police found that the accused had fled in an autorickshaw after committing the offence. They followed the route taken by the autorickshaw and traced the three accused to Virar based on technical information. After the accused were arrested, they confessed to two recent house break-ins and three rickshaw thefts. "The trio would conduct recce during the day, and commit thefts and house break-ins at night and flee from the spot in stolen autos. Goods worth Rs.10 lakh have been seized from them," an officer said....