In 2 years, Delhi cops cracked just 8% vehicle thefts, 15% burglaries
NEW DELHI: If your car is stolen or you have been a victim of snatching, molestation or theft in the national capital, chances of police cracking the case are grim.
According to crime data of 2015 and 2016, which HT analysed, the police track record in solving vehicle thefts and house break-ins is abysmally poor.
“Delhi shares over 100 porous border points with neighbouring states. It is easy to cross the border with stolen vehicles. There is an organised network of car thieves, who sell it in places as far as the northeastern states,” a senior police officer said.
He insisted that the states have to work together and be stringent in checking “outstation” cars.
In the past two years, the city reported 67,251 vehicle thefts. Police recovered only 5,782 vehicles, which is a mere 8.59%. The alarming part is that over 90% cases are pending investigation.
“Barring a few, most border points are unmanned. Also, we have noticed that old vehicles are sold as junk in markets of west Delhi. The vehicles are dismantled in just a few hours and parts are sold separately,” the officer said.
The Capital has private scrapyards at Mayapuri, where an unroganised sector profits from selling parts and metal from dismantled vehicles. This sector has flourished because India doesn’t have a recycling policy for old and unfit cars, creating space for illegal activities such as taking apart stolen cars and bikes.
More than 27,000 theft or burglary cases were reported during the two years and police managed to solve only around 15% cases.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 BJP leader OP Sharma’s office burgled, computers, TV, DVR of CCTV stolen Total cases Crimes
Vehicle theft Theft/Burglary Snatching Molestation Cases solved 2015
1,285 1,869 14,781
9,422 2,246
5,192 3,642
31,114 2016* 36,137 4,508
13,316 2,218
9,094 3,151
4,005 2,701