The tall claims of Chandigarh police of foolproof police patrolling and electronic surveillance through CCTV cameras in the City seem to have fallen flat. Chandigarh witnesses two vehicle thefts incidents everyday on an average.
Figures of Chandigarh police said about 761 cases of stolen vehicles have been reported this year till December 14. Of these, only 215 vehicles could be recovered by police. Going by the data of National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), in 2012, 894 vehicles were stolen out of which only 273 were recovered by police. In 2011, total 915 cases of vehicle theft were reported, out of which 290 vehicles were recovered. In 2010, 898 cases of vehicle theft were reported and only 256 of them were recovered. Senior police officials say it becomes difficult to track the stolen vehicles as the thieves sell it in other parts of India, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi at throwaway prices.
“Most of the stolen vehicles, especially cars and jeeps, are sold in markets of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. They change the chassis numbers of vehicle and also prepare bogus registration papers of new registration number. Vehicles are sold at very cheap prices and later used as taxis by buyers,” says a police official.