Police have stated that three Maldivian men have been arrested for attempting to steal a motorcycle after removing its original number plate and attaching another plate.

In connection with the case, two 45-year-old men and a 39-year-old man were arrested. All three men are Maldivians.

Police stated tonight that at around 03:55 early this morning, a patrol beat patrolling Malé noticed three individuals active near a motorcycle inside a lane on Carnation Magu and went to the area to inspect it.

At that time, as one of them got on the motorcycle and attempted to ride it out onto Carnation Magu, police stopped and questioned him. He claimed that the motorcycle belonged to his sister's husband, police said.

Although the information on the number plate mounted on the motorcycle matched his statement at the time, police suspected it was a stolen motorcycle and checked its engine number, police stated. When the engine number did not match, checking through the police command centre confirmed that the motorcycle's actual registered number was different, police said.

Upon further searching the area where the motorcycle was parked inside the lane, police found the motorcycle's original number plate thrown into a drain in the area, police stated.

In connection with the case, the three men were brought under police custody, and the motorcycle was towed. The key suspected of being used to steal the motorcycle and the recovered original number plate were taken into police custody for investigative purposes, police said.

Police are investigating the matter.