105 car thefts in Capital daily, negligible recovery rings alarm bells

In most cases these vehicles go untraced, leaving them open to misuse.

According to Delhi Police data, cops failed to solve 96% of the vehicle theft cases in 2015-16. Even in the 4% cases solved, actual recovery of the vehicles was made only in 1 to 2% cases. Till January 25, around 2,622 cases under the section of Motor Vehicle Theft have been registered. Most vehicles, including two wheelers and four wheelers, were stolen from East, North-East and West Delhi. Around 462 vehicles were stolen from East Delhi, 344 vehicles from North-East Delhi and 379 vehicles from West Delhi.

Last year, 31,114 vehicles were stolen and only 4.13% of cases were solved. In 2014, 22,219 vehicles were stolen and 10% of the cases were solved. “Motor vehicle theft is getting more organized every day and maximum thefts take place in the dark, especially around midnight. Soon after a vehicle is stolen, it is transported to one of the many hubs of stolen vehicles in UP, Haryana and various parts of Delhi, where they are dismantled,” a senior police official said.

Around 95% of the stolen vehicles are dismantled, which is why the vehicles are never recovered in spite  of gang members being apprehended. 

In many cases the vehicles are misused for committing crimes. The stolen vehicles often end up in Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Assam, Nagaland and various states in the south. They are also exported to Nepal.

“Easy access in making fake registration papers and re-registration of vehicles has led to a spurt in vehicle thefts. The demand and supply of various parts of the vehicles is another reason for rise in such acts,” another police officer said. 

Another major concern for agencies is the nexus between insurance companies, authorised centres and criminals. “In case a car is fully damaged in a road accident and later its insurance claims are settled, unscrupulous elements use the engine number and chassis number of these vehicles to re-register a stolen vehicle,” a source said. He added that the nexus was thriving as there is no rule to get a NOC from National Crimes Research Bureau for re-registration of the vehicles.

“The only solution to curb vehicle theft is to make the accident a non-cognisable offence. And the insurance company should stop providing claims for the stolen vehicles. In this way, the owner himself will take care of his vehicle by installing anti-theft gadgets,” the source added.