ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: As many as 34 car thieves were arrested from different areas by the capital police during the last one month and 41 vehicles were recovered from their possession.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, IGP Wajid Ali Durrani said the capital police conducted raids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in 39 other locations in Fata, AJK and Punjab and nabbed 34 car thieves.

The inspector general of police said the Islamabad police had devised a three-point strategy to nab car lifters. First, it managed to conduct raids on the houses of the car thieves who had been recorded by the police during the last five years. Secondly, the capital police kept an eye on the dealers who bought stolen vehicles and lastly, the police were particularly vigilant about the car lifters who were active during the last one year.

He said the anti-car lifting cell consisted of experienced and dedicated police officials who had expanded the operation in other areas against the car thieves. He said different raiding parties were simultaneously conducting raids in KP, Fata, Azad Kashmir and central Punjab. Moreover, the local police stations had been made more vigilant for making the drive against car thieves a complete success.

Anti-car lifting cells had specified places and erected checkpoints at 16 entry and exit avenues, he added. The IGP said the capital police during the last few days arrested 16 accused and 18 car snatchers and recovered 41 vehicles besides arms and ammunition from their possession.

He said the police seized 17 tampered vehicles and efforts were being made to find their owners. IGP Durrani said that the capital police actively engaged in protecting the life and property of the citizens by conducting crackdown against the terrorists, car lifters, dacoits and other anti-social elements.

SSP Tahir while speaking on the occasion said that under the special directives of the IGP maximum efforts had been made to provide relief to the citizens.

At the end, the IGP handed over the keys of the vehicles recovered by the police to their owners.