Mangaluru: GPS helps trace stolen forest department vehicle within hours; Kerala youth arrested

Mangaluru: GPS helps trace stolen forest department vehicle within hours; Kerala youth arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jun 3, 2026: A 23-year-old man from Kerala was arrested for allegedly stealing a Forest Department vehicle parked outside the department’s staff quarters in Padil and driving it towards Udupi district.

The accused has been identified as Nadeem, a native of Kozhikode, Kerala. He allegedly stole the vehicle during the early hours of Monday and drove away.

According to Santhosh Rai, Range Forest Officer (Mobile Squad), the vehicle had been parked outside the Forest Department staff quarters at around 10 pm on Sunday.

The theft came to light at about 7.30 am on Monday when the driver found the vehicle missing. The matter was immediately reported to senior Forest Department officials, who initiated efforts to trace the vehicle using its GPS tracking system.

“The GPS tracker showed that the vehicle was moving towards Kundapur. By 8.30 am, the Kankanady Town Police were alerted and Forest Department personnel were mobilised to trace the vehicle,” Rai said.

Using real-time GPS data, officials tracked the vehicle to Kundapur in Udupi district, where it was intercepted and seized. The accused allegedly attempted to flee after abandoning the vehicle but was apprehended shortly afterwards.

During preliminary interrogation, Nadeem reportedly told investigators that he had stolen the vehicle “for fun”. He also claimed that his parents were employed abroad. Police are verifying his statements and continuing the investigation.