Cops grapple over rising car theft cases

Despite an online application launched by the Delhi Police to monitor rising vehicle theft cases in the national Capital, vehicle theft, burglary and kidnapping have seen a sharp increase in the past four years.

According to the Delhi Police data, from January 1 till October 15 this year, 24,773 cases of vehicle theft were registered, compared with 17,828 during the same period last year. The total number of vehicle theft reported in 2014 was 23,384. This indicates that there has been an increase of 38.9 per cent in vehicle theft cases. In 2013, 14,916 cases were registered, while in 2012, 14,391 were reported.

In September 2015, the police had busted a vehicle thief gang operating in East Delhi and seized 23 stolen vehicles from their possession. According to the police, the gang used the stolen vehicles to carry out various crimes such as robbery and murder to name a few. 

According to the police, in most cases, stolen vehicles were dismantled and their parts were sold off, making it difficult for the police to trace them.

In May this year, the Delhi Police Crime Branch had arrested one Shahbuddin for allegedly stealing around 80 luxury cars from Delhi-NCR and other adjoining areas. The police learnt that Shahbuddin, along with his gang members, would come to Daryaganj to sell off stolen vehicles. 

In another case, the police arrested two persons for vehicle theft. Fourteen stolen luxury cars were recovered from their possession. The accused told the police that they made use of a high-tech scanner to remove the Engine Control Module (ECM) from the stolen vehicles.