KARACHI, Dec 27: There was a steep 17.6 per cent increase in car theft incidents in 2006 compared to 2005. Bandits on average took away 33 vehicles a day this year. In 2005, 30 vehicles a day were stolen on average.
The police, to absolve themselves increase in car thefts has led the police to blame factors including an increase in the number of vehicles on roads, poor lock system of vehicles, shortage of police strength to check all exit and entry routes of the city, corruption, etc.
According to the statistics compiled jointly by the Anti-Car Lifting Cell and the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, 11,762 vehicles – 4,916 cars and 6,846 motorbikes – were snatched or stolen in various localities in the city this year a compared to 9,686 vehicles – 3,963 cars and 5,723 motorbikes – in 2005.
A sudden rise in carjacking incidents was noticed in September, October, and November when more than 500 cars were stolen every month. Similarly, incidents of motorcycle thefts also showed a sudden jump in these months. However, the situation was controlled to a considerable extent in December, when the ACLC played an effective role in bringing down the number of incidents to less than 350.
The data shows car snatching and theft showed an increase of 19.3 per cent while motorcycles thefts and snatching showed 16.4 per cent in 2006 compared to the previous year.
However, the break-up of car snatching and theft shows a 20 per cent decline in incidents of snatching of cars while the car theft incidents marked an increase of 35 per cent.
The statistics show that the focus of the police remained the incidents of snatching of cars and they lost their grip on car theft resulting in manifold increase in the incidents.
Saddar and Gulshan towns remained on top in theft. Areas in Saddar town from where the most thefts were reported are Chand Bibi Road, Chakiwara Road, and Faqeer Mohammad Road. In Gulshan Town, the crime prone areas were Aladin Park, Maskan Chowrangi, Kamran Chowrangi, Karachi University, and Disco Bakery.
In Gulberg town, Water Pump Chowrangi, Yusuf Plaza, Javed Nehari, Gulberg Chowrangi, Farzana Dawakhana, and Mazedar Haleem were areas where the most vehicles were stolen. In Jamshed Town, Baloch Colony Bridge, Tariq Road, Jail Chowrangi, Noorani Kabab and Lasbella Chowk. In North Nazimabad Town the red areas were the terminal of 2-K bus, Board Office Chowrangi, DC Office, Sakhi Hasan Chowrangi and Landikotal Chowrangi. In New Karachi Town, the troubled spots were the Power House Chowrangi, UP More, Two-minute Chowrangi, Nala stop, and Nagan Chowrangi were worst hit areas..
The newly appointed SSP Anti-Car Lifting Cell, Abdul Khaliq Shaikh said there were numerous methods for the disposal of cars and motorbikes in the country.
He said six gangs were arrested since he took charge less than a month ago. One of the gangs belonged to Punjab and the remaining from Balochistan. The Balochistan gangs’ members disclosed that most of the stolen cars were uused locally as their registration numbers were re-issued and then they were sold locally. Some of the stolen vehicles were exported to Afghanistan via Chaman.
He said the gang belonging to Punjab told investigators that they re-registered the stolen vehicles on fake papers and sold the vehicles in the local market. “We have traced 11 such vehicles and brought them back to Karachi on the lead given by the arrested gang”, he added.
“Suzuki Mehran and Cuore are two models that are stolen the most because they have a poor doorlock and ignition key system.
