KARACHI, Jan 8: Police on Monday arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in 19 cases of car snatching/theft along with his accomplice while their third accomplice managed to escape during a shoot out in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri in North Karachi.

Police recovered stolen vehicles and equipment used in tampering with the chassis numbers from a workshop in Zarina Colony.

An ACLC team was carrying out snap checking when they tried to stop a pickup (CN-8185). Instead of stopping, the suspects opened fire at the police. Police returned fire injuring one of the suspects Munir Niazi and arrested his accomplice Mohammad Ashraf however, their third accomplice Abdul Ghafoor escaped.

Police said the real registration number of the pickup being used by the culprits was traced as KB-1869. The vehicle was stolen from Taimuria police limits on December 30, 2006.

Police also recovered a Suzuki Mehran from the workshop. The vehicle (AJW-566) was stolen from Rizvia police limits on Sunday. Police also recovered gas welding cylinders and tempering material from the workshop besides fake registration books and original registration number plats.