Automobile thefts: India
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Car Thefts 2012
Biggest haul by car thieves in
Dwaipayan Ghosh TNN
New Delhi: The city that is obsessed with cars also has the largest number of vehicle thefts. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report for 2012 reveals that the total number of vehicles stolen from this city is more than the figure of Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai put together.
There were 13,216 vehicle thefts in the capital last year when 11,457 vehicles were stolen from the five other cities. However, the city cops did a comparatively good job — though far short of the mark — of recovering the vehicles. While 2,738 vehicles were recovered in the capital, the other five cities recovered 3,227.
While 8,171 scooters and bikes were stolen, 4,538 cars and jeeps were taken away. The city also witnessed 20 buses and 71 trucks being stolen by organized gangs. Among the 422 other vehicles stolen were tractors, carts and three-wheelers. On all individual counts, the city witnessed the largest number of thefts. Bangalore (5,090) was a distant second, followed by Mumbai (4,075) and Hyderabad (1,370).
Senior officers said that with the city having the highest density of vehicles, the theft figure was way below world standards. It is indeed a fact that Delhi was the city with the highestregistration of vehicles in the country, both in 2011 and 2012, but Bangalore is showing a similar trend. In 2011, Delhi witnessed 4.76 lakh vehicles being registered while till November 2012, it saw 3.99 lakh registrations that year. On the other hand, Bangalore witnessed a huge jump, from 2.72 lakh vehicle registrations in 2011 to 3.28 lakh till November 2012. Cops claim motor vehicle thefts have come down over the past few years but unless people themselves take some basic security measures and parking issues are addressed, there cannot be any dramatic change. The cars stolen in the capital are often seized in other states and better coordination with the police force of other states can definitely speed up recovery.
The special cell has been given the task of coordination with Jammu and Kashmir while the crime branch will coordinate with police near the Nepal border and in northeastern states. Likewise, the police from other Delhi districts have been assigned the task of coordinating with their counterparts in neighbouring states. Police sources said most of the arrested car lifters revealed that they preferred to sell stolen vehicles in the northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir.
2011-2013
Dec 27 2014
1.65 lakh vehicles stolen in a year
Prafulla Marpakwar
Despite tall claims made by law-enforcement agencies about their success in controlling car thefts, information tabled in the Lok Sabha shows that as many as 1.65 lakh vehicles were stolen in a single year--2013. Uttar Pradesh has achieved the dubious distinction of leading the states with the highest number of vehicle theft cases. Maharashtra comes second.
Lok Sabha member P P Chaudhary had sought information on cases registered during the past three years and whether there was a proposal to create a portal at the national level for better coordination among state governments.
In a written reply, Union minister of state for home H P Chaudhary said a total of 1.51 lakh cases of vehicle thefts were registered in 2011 and the number rose to 1.54 lakh in 2012 and 1.65 lakh in 2013. “We have developed and hosted a website--Vahan Samanavay--for coordination of stolen and received motor vehicles as well inquiries in this regard,“ he said.
Maharashtra transport commissioner Mahesh Zagade expressed concern over the spurt in vehicle theft cases. “It's certainly a matter of concern.We will have to bring in new technology to halt incidents of vehicle theft. We will step up vigil across the state to curb vehicle theft incidents.“
Known for bringing in innovative concepts in administration, Zagade said it needed to be checked whether a radio frequency identification plan can be taken up on a pilot basis for the purpose. “We will have to examine it. If we are able to introduce the radio frequency identification plan and locate the vehicles, it will be a huge achievement.“
A former DGP said it was high time that wireless network was strengthened to locate stolen vehicles. “We will have to build a strong CCTV network across the state. We have toll plazas at several places. At least at these places, there can be a state-of-the-art CCTV network. In my opinion, once a case of vehicle theft is lodged at a police station, a message should be delivered at all toll plazas to locate the vehicle immediately.”
He said in Mumbai too, the proposed CCTV network will help locate stolen vehicles.
Secondly, the former DGP said, in recent past, there was talk of high-security number plates with holograms. “We should develop new technology .Once we feed the number of a stolen vehicle, the vehicle should be detected the moment it passes through a toll naka.“
