Hyderabad: The police formally arrested T. Suman, 21, for alleged automobile thefts on Monday. His grandfather was a former MLA and he is a native of AP’s Kurnool district.

The cops seized a BMW and two Vernas worth Rs 56 lakh from him.

Suman who is a B.Tech fourth year student of mechanical engineering at the Muffakham Jah Engineering College lost his father some years ago. He stays with his mother and a brother in Srinagar Colony.

West Zone DCP A. Venkateshwara Rao said Suman started thefts in 2013. On weekends he visits pubs, hotels and shopping malls and after diverting the attention of security personnel at the valet parking keyboard he steals keys.

He also used to steal cars from parking places. After stealing the vehicles he changes the number plates. He also used to paste MLA stickers on the vehicles, police said.

Police said he stole a black Verna from Bottles and Chimneys Pub at Begumpet in October 2013 and a white Verna from Heart Cup Coffee.

He stole the white BMW 320D car from the cellar of Hotel Daspalla in November. Officials said no action would be taken against the establishments from where the cars where stolen. Camera footage helped in tracing the alleged culprit.