July 02, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-us-Sani 27, 1429

RAWALPINDI, July 1: Four vehicles are stolen every day in the city and 74 per cent of them are Suzuki cars. About 59 percent of the vehicles are taken away in day time.

This was stated in a data arranged by the Rawalpindi police and it was discussed at a meeting of the anti-car lifting cell (ACLC) held in the office of Regional Police Officer (RPO) Nasir Khan Durrani on Tuesday.

The meeting was called to draw a comprehensive strategy to check the vehicles’ theft in the city. Khurram Shehzad, superintendent police (SP) Rawal Town, briefed the participants about the meeting of the present state of crime and presented its analysis.

According to analysis, 74 per cent of the vehicles which are stolen are of Suzuki company while 15 per cent are Toyota vehicles.

Some 41 per cent vehicles are stolen during night hours when parked un-attended in the streets. The most affected areas fall under the police stations of Cantonment, R.A. Bazaar, New Town and Sadiqabad.

It was decided at the meeting that two pronged-strategy would be adopted to check the increasing crime rate; prevention and detection.

Under preventive measures, the concept of “Target Hardening” will be adopted and the vehicles secured in a manner that they could not be stolen easily.

The “Steering chain” and “Wheel stopper” will be introduced to the owners and they will be asked to apply it to their vehicle.

Under the detection, efforts will be made through breaking the networks of the car lifters. In this regard, persons previously challaned (charge sheeted) in the car theft cases will be hauled up and interrogated. Their movements will also be monitored.

The ACLC will comprise a DSP, five inspectors 15 upper subordinates and 100 constables. There will be a separate counter for security awareness of the general public, headed by an inspector. It will work under SP Rawal Town.

The RPO directed for updating the computer data of the stolen vehicles and impound all vehicles under Section 550 (Powers of police to seize property suspected to be stolen) Criminal Procedure Code or in criminal cases must be accounted for and deposited in the respective police station.

He has constituted a senior level committee headed by Yaseen Farooq, SSP Operations, to check record of last four years of police stations and submit report within three weeks.

Meanwhile, City Police Officer (CPO) Rao Muhammad Iqbal visited the Waris Khan police station and suspended seven policemen on the charge of being absent from their duties. The suspended officials include a sub-inspector and six constables.

The CPO also found two cars confiscated in a case missing at the police station and served show-cause on the SHO.