A cursory glance at official statistics might suggest there's been a fast and furious rise in the number of vehicle thefts in Delhi over the past couple of years.
But police say that's because the FIRs for a large number of such crimes occurring in other NCR towns are being recorded in the city. According to police, victims often dishonestly claim that the incidents took place in parts of the Capital.
Delhi Police have found in a recent study that nearly 40% of motor vehicle thefts reported here are actually from other parts of the national capital region where residents find it difficult to get a case registered.
A cursory glance at official statistics might suggest there's been a fast and furious rise in the number of vehicle thefts in Delhi over the past couple of years however the stat s don't tell the whole truth
The fact that the department allows online filing of First Information Reports (FIR) has also triggered the surge in numbers.
This aspect was discovered after Amulya Kumar Patnaik took charge as Delhi's police commissioner less than a month ago.
Since his joining, sources said, he has studied the crime trends in the city and asked top cops to provide a detailed study on the situation in their jurisdiction.
According to the findings, around 18.44 per cent of the total cases registered in the Capital under the Indian Penal Code are of automobile theft.
As many as 2,09,519 cases under different sections of the IPC were lodged in 2016 of which 38,644 cases were about stolen vehicles, while in January this year as many as 22,304 total crimes have been recorded of which 3,027 are of auto thef t.
A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said, 'While analysing the data of motor vehicle theft and observing that around 87 per cent of these cases remain unsolved, it was learnt that in most of these unsettled cases the crime did not take place in Delhi.
'As a result, the basic information that is the key point for an investigating officer is forged. So, the officer fails to develop the case.'
Sources say it is comparatively difficult to lodge an auto theft FIR in Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.
In case a victim somehow manages to file a complaint, it takes another couple of days to get it converted to a First Information Report.
40% of motor vehicle thefts reported here are actually from other parts of the NCR
Since A ugust 2015, Delhi Police had made it easy for victims to file an e-FIR of stolen motor vehicles.
The then police commissioner, BS Bassi, kicked off the initiative.
Soon after, the crime graph in the city shot up. Officers say in many cases the e-FIR process was misused to claim insurance.
'In case someone's car is stolen in Noida and he is unable to file an FIR there, the victim alleges that the vehicle was stolen in some part of Delhi.
This helps him get an FIR registered with Delhi Police and also an e-FIR, that also speeds up the insurance claim,' said one of them.
According to the data, of the 2,09,519 vehicles reported stolen in the city last year, a total of 28,409 were two-wheelers, 8,198 were cars and 2,037 were other vehicles.
Only 4,473 stolen vehicles were recovered and 5,069 auto lifters were arrested.
According to the data, of the 2,09,519 vehicles reported stolen in the city last year, a total of 28,409 were two-wheelers, 8,198 were cars and 2,037 were other vehicles.
Delhi Police say that the acute shortage of parking space and the general practice of leaving vehicles on the roadside, as well as the unwillingness of a majority of motor vehicle owners to install anti-theft equipment are all major contributing factors in vehicle theft cases.
In the recent meeting, Patnaik instructed officers to maintain a record of dishonest cases and take action against the complainants.
Sources told Mail Today that the police chief has also formed core teams, special investigation teams as well as law and order research teams in all districts.
Special trai ning sessions are also being organised for better policing.
