KARACHI, Nov 14: A 12 per cent drop was witnessed in the incidents of snatching and theft of cars during the month of Ramazan. In the past three years, the graph of carjacking was high during the month of Ramazan, as 644 cars were taken away in the year 2004, 602 in 2003 and 654 in 2002. However, the graph shows a declining trend in the year 2005 when 566 incidents of car theft and snatching were reported.

A representative of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee said that a joint effort was made to control the incidents during Ramazan and the deployment of police at all known entry and exit routes was intensified.

The impact of the deployment yielded a positive result and the transportation of stolen vehicles was checked. Efforts were intensified after 25 cars were taken away on Oct 8 in different localities in the city.

Though the incidents of snatching and theft of motorbikes increased from 312 in 2004 to 366 this year in Ramazan, an overall decrease in the incidents of snatching vehicles was recorded. A total of 932 vehicles were taken away during Ramazan this year as compared with 956 in the holy month last year.

A police official in the Anti-Car Lifting Cell said that many carjackers were arrested during Ramazan. However, he complained about the shortage of strength in the ACLC. If the sanctioned strength of the ACLC was fulfilled, the results could be improved, he added.