KARACHI, Dec 12: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell arrested 19 men for their involvement in carjacking and recovered stolen vehicles and CNG kits from their possession.

Addressing a news conference on Tuesday, the newly appointed chief of the ACLC SSP Abdul Khaliq Shaikh said the arrests came into effect on a tip-off and most of those arrested were already bailed out from courts in various cases of carjacking.

He said ACLC officials raided a hideout in Jamshed town and arrested three suspects who led the police to recover two stolen cars and 16 stolen CNG kits. Similarly, other suspects were arrested from different parts of the city during raids and the police recovered 12 stolen CNG kits and 12 vehicles including a truck.

He said the vehicles were transported to other province and the city police were considering approaching the Balochistan and Punjab governments to seek arrests of those involved in the racket of carjacking.

SSP Abdul Khaliq said cars were being lifted to steal CNG kits and it was one of the factors which marked an increase in car theft incidents. He said the ACLC had conducted a survey of the city and found 84 prominent centres of installing CNG kits in vehicles. “We have prepared a code of conduct for them. We have asked them to coordinate with police and be careful in buying used CNG kits,” he added.

He asked the buyers to take the receipt of CNG kits and get the serial number inscribed on the kit and cylinder so that it could be traced in case of theft.

Besides, he said almost all models of Suzuki were the hotcake of criminals as these vehicles had a poor lock system. “We are considering taking up the issue with the manufacturer and urge them to improve the lock system of vehicles which would help check incidents of car thefts,” he added.