Vehicle theft cases surge in Chandigarh

Vehicle theft cases in Chandigarh are on the rise, with a stark disparity in recovery rates by the police. Police statistics reveal that from January 1, 2024, to June 30, a total of 596 vehicle theft cases were reported, with additional cases already emerging in July. However, during these six months, the police have only managed to recover 109 vehicles, leaving a significant number of cases unresolved. In fact, from 2021 to 2024, more than 2,000 vehicle theft cases remain untraced, with the final reports submitted to the court declaring them as such. Victims of these thefts often receive compensation only through insurance claims.

Despite the police department’s high-tech initiatives to combat vehicle theft, the list of unresolved cases remains lengthy. Over the past three and a half years (January 2021 to June 2024), Chandigarh has witnessed approximately 3,212 vehicle thefts, out of which only 790 vehicles have been recovered. The remaining cases continue to have no leads on the whereabouts of the stolen vehicles.

The majority of vehicle theft incidents (70%) involve two-wheelers, particularly scooters, bikes, and Activa models. Four-wheeled vehicles are less frequently targeted. Vehicle thefts are typically attributed to organised criminal activities, with instances ranging from vehicle snatching to other criminal acts. Occasionally, stolen vehicles have been traced to locations far from Chandigarh, such as Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the challenges in recovery.

Efforts to track stolen vehicles include the use of GPS technology, although cases like a recent car theft, where GPS was installed but the vehicle’s location was traced to another state without further leads, demonstrate ongoing challenges. Criminals often employ tactics such as using bogus number plates to evade detection, posing additional hurdles for law enforcement.

Recently, police successfully recovered motorcycles with bogus number plates, illustrating ongoing efforts to tackle vehicle theft through strategic operations.