Three men have been arrested in Male' on suspicion of attempting to steal a motorcycle after removing its original number plate and attaching another.

Police said officers on patrol spotted the three men near a motorcycle on a street off Carnation Magu at around 4am.

One of the men was preparing to ride the motorcycle away when officers stopped him and questioned him. He claimed the motorcycle belonged to his sister’s husband, police said.

Although the number plate matched his explanation, officers checked the motorcycle’s engine number and found that it did not match the registration details.

The police command centre confirmed that the motorcycle had a different original registration number.

The motorcycle’s original number plate was later found discarded in a nearby ditch, police said.

The three suspects were taken into custody. Police also seized the motorcycle, its keys and the original number plate as part of the investigation.

Police have not released the identities of the suspects.