Delhi Police Smash Inter-State Car Theft Racket; 5 Cars Recovered
Delhi Police arrest two men from Punjab and recover five stolen cars, including four Hyundai Cretas, busting a sophisticated inter-state theft syndicate.
The Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of the Delhi Police's Central District has successfully dismantled a sophisticated inter-state car theft racket operating out of Punjab. In a targeted operation, police arrested two active autolifters and recovered five stolen vehicles, bringing an end to a series of thefts that had plagued the national capital.
The Breakthrough: A Stolen Creta Leads the Way
The investigation kicked off following a complaint on October 14, when a white Hyundai Creta was stolen from outside a residence in Old Rajinder Nagar. An e-FIR was promptly registered under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Rajinder Nagar police station.
Recognizing the seriousness of the crime, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District) Rohit Rajbir Singh assigned a specialized team. Led by Inspector Sandeep Dabas (In-charge AATS/Central District) and supervised by ACP (Operations) Padam Singh Rana, the team utilized a combination of manual intelligence and technical surveillance to track the culprits.
Modus Operandi: From Delhi Streets to Punjab Borders
The investigation revealed a calculated pattern used by the Punjab-based syndicate. The gang specifically targeted well-maintained vehicles across the Delhi-NCR region during the late-night hours. To avoid detection while transporting the vehicles, the thieves would affix fake registration number plates before driving the stolen cars to Punjab for disposal.
Raids and Arrests in Amritsar
Acting on precise intelligence, the Delhi Police team conducted a raid in Jandiala Guru, Amritsar, on October 16. This operation led to the apprehension of 33-year-old Shamsher. Upon his arrest, police recovered a black Hyundai Creta, which had been reported stolen in a case registered at the Begampur police station in Rohini.
Under interrogation, Shamsher revealed the involvement of his partner-in-crime, 39-year-old Rinku (also known as Rinky), who is also a resident of Jandiala Guru. Rinku was arrested later that same day. His capture led the police directly to the white Hyundai Creta that had been stolen from Rajinder Nagar.
The Haul: Five Vehicles Recovered
The crackdown didn't stop with the two primary arrests. Further disclosures from the suspects led the police to recover three additional stolen vehicles. With these recoveries, the Delhi Police have effectively solved theft cases registered at the following police stations:
- Rajinder Nagar
- Begampur (Rohini)
- Janakpuri
- Rajouri Garden
- Netaji Subhash Place
In total, the recovered vehicles include four Hyundai Cretas and one Maruti Suzuki Dzire.
The Hunt for the 'Receiver'
While two members of the gang are behind bars, the investigation is still active. The arrested duo identified an associate named Harpreet, alias Honey, a resident of Amritsar, as the person responsible for the final disposal of the stolen cars.
Police officials stated that efforts are currently underway to track down and arrest Harpreet, as well as other members of the syndicate, to uncover the full scale of the operation and recover any other stolen vehicles.