Kaprada Highway Vehicle Theft Shock: Vapi Trader’s Pickup Van Vanishes in Minutes After Breakdown, Sparking Fear on Highway
The serene but rugged hilly terrain of the Kaprada region in Valsad district has become the backdrop for a startling crime that has sent shivers down the spines of local traders and daily commuters.
A nightmare scenario unfolded for a young businessman from Vapi, turning what should have been a routine trip into a financial disaster. The incident highlights the growing menace of the Kaprada Highway Vehicle Theft gangs operating in the shadows of the night.
It is a common instinct for any driver to seek help when their vehicle breaks down on a lonely highway. However, for Rizwan Sheikh, this natural reaction cost him his livelihood. After his pickup van suffered a technical snag, he left it locked to fetch assistance, only to return and find his valuable vehicle stolen. The speed and stealth with which the theft was executed have raised serious questions about safety on these arterial roads.
Livelihood Stolen in the Dead of Night
For the residents of Vapi and its surrounding industrial belts, the vegetable trade is a vital source of income. Hundreds of young men undertake the grueling journey to Nashik, Maharashtra, every night to procure fresh produce for the morning markets.
Rizwan Sheikh, a resident of the Karvad area in Vapi, is one such hardworking individual. On the fateful night of January 13, 2026, Rizwan set out on his regular route. He was driving his Mahindra Pickup van, bearing the registration number GJ-15-AV-3712, intending to bring back a load of vegetables.
The night seemed ordinary, and the traffic was light, allowing him to make good time. His goal was simple: reach Nashik, load the goods, and return to Vapi by dawn to sell his stock. However, fate had a cruel twist in store for him.
The Breakdown at Borini Dardi
As Rizwan navigated the winding roads of the Kaprada taluka, approaching the remote and somewhat desolate area known as Borini Dardi, his vehicle began to act up.
Suddenly, the engine faltered. In local mechanic parlance, the vehicle “got hit”—meaning the engine overheated severely, forcing the vehicle to a grinding halt. Despite Rizwan’s best efforts to cool the engine and restart the ignition, the pickup refused to budge.
He found himself stranded in the middle of a dark, forested stretch of the highway with a dead vehicle. The isolation of the Borini Dardi area meant there were no garages, mechanics, or service stations nearby to offer immediate relief.
A Desperate Decision to Seek Help
Stranded in the pitch black of the night, Rizwan Sheikh faced a difficult dilemma. He could not repair the vehicle on his own, and waiting alone in a remote area was risky.
After assessing the situation, he made the calculated decision to leave the vehicle temporarily. He securely locked the pickup, believing it would be safe for a few hours while he arranged for a towing service.
Rizwan waved down a passing truck on the highway and requested a lift back to Vapi. His plan was straightforward: reach his hometown, grab another vehicle, and return to tow his broken-down pickup back to safety.
Upon reaching Vapi, he immediately contacted his younger brother, Irfan. He explained the emergency to Irfan, who informed him that he had taken their second tempo towards Nanapondha. The brothers coordinated quickly. They decided that Irfan would bring the tempo, pick up Rizwan, and they would drive back to Kaprada together to retrieve the stranded vehicle.
The Shocking Discovery: The Spot Was Empty
The brothers acted with urgency, knowing that leaving a vehicle on the highway was not ideal. They arranged the logistics and sped back towards Kaprada, hoping to tow the pickup and minimize the loss of the business day.
However, when they arrived at the specific spot near Borini Dardi where Rizwan had parked his Mahindra Pickup GJ-15-AV-3712, they were greeted by a sight that made the ground slip from beneath their feet.
The spot was empty. The vehicle was gone.
There was no trace of the van. Initially, the brothers frantically searched the immediate vicinity, hoping perhaps the traffic police had towed it to clear the road or that it had been moved slightly. But as the minutes ticked by, the horrifying reality set in: the vehicle had been stolen.
In a span of just a few hours, a vehicle worth lakhs of rupees—the primary asset for their family’s livelihood—had vanished into thin air. For a small trader, the loss of a commercial vehicle is a devastating economic blow, equivalent to losing one’s shop.
Suspicions of a Professional Gang and Duplicate Keys
Devastated but determined to get justice, Rizwan Sheikh immediately approached the local police station to file a complaint regarding the Kaprada Highway Vehicle Theft.
The nature of the theft has led investigators and the victim to suspect the involvement of seasoned criminals. Stealing a vehicle that has broken down due to engine failure is not an easy task for an amateur thief.
There are two prevailing theories. First, the thieves might have used a Duplicate Key to unlock the cabin and potentially bypass the ignition system, managing to restart the overheated engine after it had cooled down. Second, and perhaps more likely, a highway gang equipped with towing capabilities might have spotted the abandoned vehicle, hooked it up, and dragged it away to a hideout.
Police Launch Manhunt for the Thieves
The police have registered an offense against unknown persons and have initiated a full-scale investigation. This incident serves as a grim proof that organized gangs are active on this highway, specifically scouting for vulnerable, unattended vehicles.
The audacity of the thieves to steal a broken-down car suggests they are well-equipped and fearless. The police are now relying on technology to crack the case. They have begun scanning footage from CCTV cameras installed at various toll plazas, hotel fronts, and check-posts along the route to trace the movement of the stolen pickup.
Investigators are also activating their network of informants to check if the vehicle has been moved across the border into Maharashtra or taken to a chop shop to be dismantled for parts.
A Warning to Highway Commuters
This incident of Kaprada Highway Vehicle Theft serves as a stark warning to all motorists and transporters using this route. Leaving a vehicle unattended, even for a short duration due to an emergency, carries a high risk in these isolated stretches.
The police have urged drivers to avoid leaving vehicles alone whenever possible and to utilize helpline numbers for immediate highway assistance. For Rizwan and his family, the hope now rests entirely on the police’s ability to track down their stolen vehicle and restore their livelihood.
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