KARACHI, March 23: Almost 32 per cent decline has been recorded in the incidents of carjacking during the past two months as against in the corresponding period last year, according to the statistics compiled by the Anti-carlifting Cell (ACLC) of the police. However, case of motorcycle snatching and theft during the first two months of this year showed a mere 2.4 per cent decrease in comparison tothe corresponding period last year.

The remarkable decline in carjacking perplexed the officials in the police and the ACLC as they did not take any extra measures to curb the menace except the steps taken through available resources and the manpower in the ACLC.

A senior police official said: “we have neither taken any extra measures nor increased the ACLC strength. The 32 per cent decline is beyond our expectations.”

During January and February this year, only 435 four-wheelers — seven cars a day on average — were taken away as compared with 639 during the same months of 2002. The bandits snatched or took away 936 motorcycles during the past two months whereas 959 motorcycles had been taken away during the corresponding months in 2002.

Figures show that 128 cars were snatched and 148 taken away in January last whereas 81 cars were hijacked and 49 taken away in the following month. The average in February comes to 4.6 cars only.

The police claimed to having recovered 271 cars out of 435 snatched/stolen. The recovery ratio stood at 62.3 per cent during the past two months. In the corresponding period of previous year, 279 out of 639 four-wheelers were recovered. The ratio stood at 43.66 per cent. However, the recovery ratio of motorcycles was almost the same.

Some officials attributed the sharp decline in carjacking cases to the intermittent incidents of terrorism in February. Disputed the idea, some other officials referred to the decline in transportation of snatched/stolen vehicles to Balochistan. They were of the view that the changing trend showed carjackers’ reluctance in continuing with the racket for the reasons best known to them.

During the past two months, most of the cars were lifted in Karachi for commission of crime, joy ride, etc. and not for their onward sale in any other province, the officials added.

The recommendations prepared by Abdur Razzak Cheema, chief of the ACLC, are focused on the need for eliminating the existing market for stolen vehicles and their spare parts, provision of secret code by manufacturers to decipher engine, chassis numbers when these identification numbers were deformed beyond recognition, establishing specialized units in police all over the country to deal with this organized crime, a close liaison between law enforcement agencies across the country in this respect, and setting up of a national motor registration authority.

Mr Cheema stated the ACLC felt that vehicle theft and snatching was an organized crime prevalent at national level. “Vehicles are stolen and snatched from Karachi and sold in different cities all over the country after their identification being changed. Such stolen vehicles go unchecked and in turn increase the demand of more stolen vehicles. Unless we check movement, ownership, transfer and possession of stolen vehicles, we cannot prevent vehicle-theft in Karachi or other parts of the country.”

Mr Cheema suggested that a check on auto repair workshops and spare parts shops as well as sale and purchase points should be regulated so as to curb the trading in stolen vehicles and their parts.

He said that all law-enforcement agencies should check the vehicles that did not carry standard number plate. All government vehicles should also display only standard registration number plate, he added. He proposed that police and other law enforcement agencies in all the provinces should arrest known criminals and buyers of stolen vehicles as the practice could play a significant role in curbing the menace.

Mr Cheema further proposed that national and provincial database pertaining to all registered and stolen vehicles should be prepared and circulated immediately to prevent the registration of stolen vehicles at any place in the country.

Referring to a report submitted by Shamsuddin Abro, Administrator of Karachi Public Transport Society (KPTS) to the secretary Labour and Transport, Sindh, regarding Mr Abro’s efforts in the recovery of an snatched vehicle (GL-4554) Toyota Hilux, in Dera Bugti (Balochistan), Mr Cheema observed that ACLC had been facing a lot of problems in the recovery of stolen vehicles and arrest of suspects from Balochistan.

“We do not face any problem in areas that are under control of police. Only five per cent of Balochistan is under police control. In the rest of the area, if a stolen vehicle is spotted, it is returned only on payment of a huge sum of money, as per tribal traditions. Existence of such a large area and tribal traditions is a major factor contributing to the flourishing trade of vehicle theft in Karachi. A large number of criminals also succeed in finding sanctuary in such areas. In these areas, vehicle theft is not considered a crime, but a business.”

Mr Cheema suggested that provision of a ‘secret code’ to decipher engine and chassis numbers should be made available by all vehicle manufacturers. He pointed out that Honda and Toyota provided this facility in their new vehicles.

He observed that vehicle theft investigation was a specialized job. Police officials assigned the task of such an investigation, should be imparted an appropriate training, he opined.