Two persons involved in a series of auto-rickshaw and vehicle battery thefts across Hyderabad and neighbouring districts were arrested during a joint operation by the Shamshabad zone of Commissioner’s Task Force and Pahadishareef police on Tuesday. Officials seized stolen property worth around ₹7 lakh from the duo.

The accused were identified as Mohd Akber, 35, a labourer from Chintalmet in Bahadurpura, and Faizullah Khan alias Faiz, 42, a flower trader from Mahmood Nagar in Kishanbagh. Police said a third accused, Mohd Hameeduddin alias Imran, an auto driver from Jhirra, is absconding.

The accused were apprehended while attempting to sell stolen property for easy money.

During the operation, police seized three passenger auto-rickshaws and nine vehicle batteries stolen from tractors and DCM vehicles.

Police records revealed that the accused were linked to at least six theft cases registered at Mahabubnagar I-Town, Jadcherla Town, Maheshwaram, Mahabubnagar Rural, Pahadishareef and Medchal police stations. While Mohd Akber was previously involved in three property offence cases, Faizullah Khan has a criminal history involving 15 property offence cases.

Investigators said the accused were habitual offenders and had earlier been remanded in a vehicle battery theft case registered at Adibatla police station. While lodged at Central Prison, Chanchalguda, they met and conspired to commit further property offences after their release.

After being released from jail around five months ago, the three stole three auto-rickshaws from different locations in Mahabubnagar district and later used the vehicles while committing battery thefts in Medchal, Tukkuguda and Maheshwaram areas.

Further investigation is under way to trace the absconding accused.