Mangaluru: The police tracing a stolen bicycle, owned by the son of a police inspector, ended up solving nine bicycle theft cases.

Three men were arrested for stealing the bicycles. They are Hanumantha (35) of Haveri, Manjuraj (29) of Shivamogga and Shankar Shetty (66) of Kuthar.

All the three were working as daily-wage labourers in Mangaluru.

When they did not have any work, they would steal bicycles and sell it for a lesser price. They were selling Rs 20,000 worth cycles for Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, Mangaluru Commissioner N Shashi Kumar said.

The police seized nine cycles worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The cycle owned by son of Inspector Shareef was stolen from the parking area of an apartment which was captured on CCTV camera.

Barke police have registered a case.