In ’13, vehicle theft rose, detection rate dipped

Thane: The rise in the number of vehicle thefts and low detection rate seems to be a worrying factor for the Thane police. While motor vehicle theft has increase by 12 per cent in 2013 as compared to 2011, the detection rate has fallen by 26 in the same time.
According to the statistics available with the Thane police in 2013, around 1,485 vehicle theft cases were recorded as against 1,325 reported in 2011.However the worrying part for the police personnel is decline in detection of these cases. Last year police department solved 334 cases as against 394 detected in 2011. Thus reflecting that detection of lost vehicle cases has come down by over 26 per cent between 2011 and 2013. To put in simple perspective of every 100 vehicles theft reported in 2013, the police could detect only 22 cases.
It has been observed that those involved in vehicle theft crimes dismantle the stolen vehicles and sell the parts in the market. In some cases, the stolen vehicles are used for committing crimes like robbery, extortion and in some cases even to kill people or rival gangsters. “But popular trend in vehicle theft cases is to sell the stolen car or motorcycle at throw away prices in rural areas or outside the state,” a senior police official said.
Admitting about rising graph of vehicle theft case and declining performance in detection of these cases a police official said, “One has to understand the department’s limitation department when it comes to drawing conclusion on vehicle theft cases. In cases where the stolen vehicle is dismantled partially, destroyed completely then tracing of a vehicle and the thief involved really becomes difficult, thus leading to poor detection rate.”
According to police parking of vehicles on the road or in front of the house makes thefts easy for criminals who have mastered the art of opening handle or door locks.
There is mixed response among citizens about the police performance when it comes to street crimes, especially cases pertaining to vehicle thefts.
“Despite police patrolling at night and wee hours the vehicle theft cases are on the rise. It clearly indicates that those involved in crime are not scared about the law enforcing agency,” Lalji Kurmi, a Thane resident said.
Kurmi added, “Merely putting onus on police is not the solution. The vehicle owners should also be more vigilant.”