KARACHI, Feb 5: Twenty-five vehicles a day, on average, were taken away in the year 2002 by bandits, showing an overall decrease of seven per cent as compared to 2001. However, a three per cent rise has been noticed in motorcycle lifting incidents in 2002.

According to the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) statistics, bandits took away 3,401 four-wheelers in 2002 as compared with 4,225 in 2001, marking a 19.5 per cent decline in incidents.

However, incidents of motorbike lifting showed an increase, as 5,832 motorcycles were taken away in 2002 as compared with 5,671 in 2001, which suggested that the police did not attach much importance to curbing the incidents of motorbike lifting.

The highest number of four-wheelers was taken away in April, while 340 vehicles, each, were hijacked/stolen in May and June. The reason is stated to be the transfer of the ACLC staff to other departments, leaving the exit and entry points of the city unmanned.

November was the worst month for motorcyclists as bandits took away 667 motorcycles (22 motorbikes a day). In September, October and January, more than 500 motorbikes were taken away in each month.

A total of 329 cars were taken away in January, 310 in February, 289 in March, 343 in April, 340 in May, 340 in June, 257 in July, 209 in August, 250 in September, 234 in October, 276 in November and 224 in December.

The bandits took away 513 motorcycles in January, 446 in February, 317 in March, 471 in April, 463 in May, 464 in June, 489 in July, 455 in August, 515 in September, 543 in October, 667 in November, and 489 in December.

The most vulnerable police limits where the bandits remained active included Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Ferozabad, Aziz Bhatti, Darakhshan, Clifton, Gulistan-i-Johar, Taimuria (in North Nazimabad), Gizri, North Nazimabad, Defence, Joharabad and Tipu Sultan.

The motorbike thieves remained active in Azizabad, Sir Syed Town, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Kharadar, Korangi, Ferozabad, New Karachi, Soldier Bazaar, Aram Bagh, Joharabad, Korangi Industrial Area, Orangi Town and Khuwaja Ajmer Nagri.

The bandits hijacked 47 per cent four-wheelers and stole 53 per cent others. A total of 42.5 per cent motorbikes were hijacked and 57.5 per cent were stolen.

The police claimed to have arrested 671 suspected bandits and 554 cases were detected. ACLC further claimed that they arrested 213 suspects red-handed while hijacking cars and 123 others for snatching motorcycles. The police also claimed to have recovered 1,830 cars and 1,818 motorcycles.

The statistics show that the police again did not give importance to the recovery of motorcycles as according to the ACLC, the recovery of cars was 54 per cent while the recovery of bikes was 31.17 per cent.