Sindh's solution to motorcycle theft met with widespread dismay
Installing trackers in motorcycles is an expense few drivers are willing to bear
According to excise and taxation records, Karachi has 3.5 million registered motorcycles with the addition of about 25,000 motorcycles every month. PHOTO: APP
KARACHI:
Everyone loves their valuables, especially motorcycles purchased with their hard-earned money, but there are some people who would love to take those treasured possessions off your hands.
In case they succeed in robbing you of your riches, you need a way to fight back but for most valuables there is little to no chance of recovery. To combat this, the Sindh government has come up with a new idea to curb the theft of motorcycles in Karachi — install tracking devices in them.
The government of Sindh has decided that tracking devices will be installed in all newly manufactured motorcycles, as well as those already in use across Karachi.
There has been a massive decrease in incidents of terrorism and targeted killings in the city since the Karachi operation began on September 5, 2013, but unfortunately, there has been little change in the number of vehicles being stolen, particularly motorcycles.
A city of motorcycles
According to excise and taxation records, the city has around 3.5 million registered motorcycles with the addition of about 25,000 motorcycles every month.
Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) records suggest that on average, more than 25,000 citizens are deprived of their motorcycles every year. For example, a total 25,909 citizens were deprived of their motorcycles in 2017 alone. This includes 1,985 snatched motorcycles and 23,924 thefts.
Interestingly, despite having a specialised unit of the Karachi police to deal with the theft of vehicles — the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) — that falls under the Criminal Investigation Agency and is being headed by an SSP ranked officer with a total strength of around 450, the police have failed to make any major success in eliminating motorcycle theft in Karachi. The recovery of stolen or snatched motorcycles is less than 5%. In 2017, the police was only able to recover 937 motorcycles.
A study by the ACLC on motorcycle theft in Karachi suggests that there are over 60 interprovincial gangs operating in the city. The gang members are divided into three categories — those who snatch or steal motorcycles, those who carry the motorcycles and smuggle them from one place to another and the buyers who buy snatched or stolen bikes and then resell them.
The study stated that a majority of the stolen or snatched motorcycles are smuggled to parts of rural Sindh and Balochistan where they are sold for between Rs10,000 and Rs15,000.
The ACLC report explained that the motorcycles are transported in two ways — sometimes in the form of spare parts but mostly via 32 exit points from Karachi.
Eight reasons motorcyclists in Pakistan are more prone to road accidents
"When I was posted as ACLC SSP, I did a study on this matter and I found some 32 exit points [in Karachi]. Most of these exit points are in 'katcha areas'," explained former ACLC chief SSP Irfan Bahadur who was posted as the cell's chief in 2015. "With the shortage of strength and resources, it is a very difficult task to monitor all the routes but the ACLC police have busted a number of gangs and recovered hundreds of motorcycles, even from rural Sindh and Balochistan," he said.
"Around 95% of these 70cc motorcycles are Chinese made and are on the criminals' favourite lists," Muhammad Ahsan, president of the Karachi Motorcycles Dealers Association, told The Express Tribune. "Some 75% of buyers purchase these motorcycles on installments."
The 70cc China motorcycle costs around Rs44,000 exclusive of the Rs3,500 excise registration fee, which includes the Rs350 charges for a number plate.
No way, no how
Motorcycle dealers strongly oppose the government's proposal to install trackers in motorcycles. "Try to understand my point. How can a middle-class or a lower-class person who cannot afford to buy a motorcycle outright be able to afford the expenses of the tracker or its monthly maintenance charges?" Ahsan questioned.
The tracker will cost around Rs6,500 with monthly charges of Rs1,500.
"The battery is the main tool to run the trackers in motorcycles but interestingly, more than 90% of motorcycles operate without batteries," said a representative of a tracker company. "Secondly, the motorcyclist should have a smart phone to keep a track of his motorcycle."
The city's residents welcome the move to curb motorcycle theft but are requesting the government to bear the expense of the trackers. They said that the initial installation charges, maintenance, monthly expenses and battery charges are too much for them to manage. In order to use the trackers, motorcyclists will have to replace the batteries every four months.
"This is a government's responsibility to take care of its citizens and their valuables. I appreciate the government's decision but I cannot bear the expenses," lamented Amir Siddiq, a resident of Karachi whose monthly income is Rs25,000. "I have a motorcycle and to pay Rs2,500 in installments for it each month is very difficult for me. So how can I afford the extra Rs1,500 each month for tracker charges?" he asked.
Citizens said that such proposals or campaigns like wearing helmets while riding motorcycles raise doubts on the intentions of the government or law enforcement agencies as such proposals or campaigns are launched occasionally to show performance. "The helmet campaign, registration number plate campaign and now this tracker campaign — there is definitely something wrong, as each government or police campaign is a publicity gimmick and definitely aims to benefit them or some companies," theorised another citizen, Irfanul Haq.
"If the government believes that this campaign will prove fruitful in the elimination of motorcycle lifting, it should dissolve the ACLC and provide citizens with trackers using the money paid as their salaries," he suggested.
Set into motion
Recently, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal held a meeting with representatives of motorcycle manufacturers' associations, tracking companies, the police, the excise department, the Sindh Rangers and CPLC to review the progress made in the exercise over the past few months.
It was observed that as per his directives, efforts were being made to achieve the objective through consensus among all stakeholders. Siyal told the meeting's participants that tracking devices were crucial to contain criminal elements, as not only were motorcyclists easy targets for criminals, but two-wheelers were also used for criminal activities. "The elimination of criminals and their gangs is among our top most priorities," he said. Representatives of tracking companies and manufacturers of motorcycles assured the minister of their support in the campaign.
Government negligent towards local motorcycle manufacturers
"Fitting trackers in the motorcycles will prove beneficial in the elimination of motorcycle theft and snatching," said SSP Bahadur. According to him, he was able to bust at least 18 gangs operating in the city with the help of a tracking system. "We had installed trackers in around 60 motorcycles on a trial basis and were able to bust 18 gangs."
He said that the other way to stop the theft or snatching of motorcycles is to stop the demand for such motorcycles. "When you stop the demand, there is a definite reduction in the supply," he explained.
Everyone loves their valuables, especially motorcycles purchased with their hard-earned money, but there are some people who would love to take those treasured possessions off your hands.
In case they succeed in robbing you of your riches, you need a way to fight back but for most valuables there is little to no chance of recovery. To combat this, the Sindh government has come up with a new idea to curb the theft of motorcycles in Karachi — install tracking devices in them.
The government of Sindh has decided that tracking devices will be installed in all newly manufactured motorcycles, as well as those already in use across Karachi.
There has been a massive decrease in incidents of terrorism and targeted killings in the city since the Karachi operation began on September 5, 2013, but unfortunately, there has been little change in the number of vehicles being stolen, particularly motorcycles.
A city of motorcycles
According to excise and taxation records, the city has around 3.5 million registered motorcycles with the addition of about 25,000 motorcycles every month.
Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) records suggest that on average, more than 25,000 citizens are deprived of their motorcycles every year. For example, a total 25,909 citizens were deprived of their motorcycles in 2017 alone. This includes 1,985 snatched motorcycles and 23,924 thefts.
Interestingly, despite having a specialised unit of the Karachi police to deal with the theft of vehicles — the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) — that falls under the Criminal Investigation Agency and is being headed by an SSP ranked officer with a total strength of around 450, the police have failed to make any major success in eliminating motorcycle theft in Karachi. The recovery of stolen or snatched motorcycles is less than 5%. In 2017, the police was only able to recover 937 motorcycles.
A study by the ACLC on motorcycle theft in Karachi suggests that there are over 60 interprovincial gangs operating in the city. The gang members are divided into three categories — those who snatch or steal motorcycles, those who carry the motorcycles and smuggle them from one place to another and the buyers who buy snatched or stolen bikes and then resell them.
The study stated that a majority of the stolen or snatched motorcycles are smuggled to parts of rural Sindh and Balochistan where they are sold for between Rs10,000 and Rs15,000.
The ACLC report explained that the motorcycles are transported in two ways — sometimes in the form of spare parts but mostly via 32 exit points from Karachi.
Eight reasons motorcyclists in Pakistan are more prone to road accidents
"When I was posted as ACLC SSP, I did a study on this matter and I found some 32 exit points [in Karachi]. Most of these exit points are in 'katcha areas'," explained former ACLC chief SSP Irfan Bahadur who was posted as the cell's chief in 2015. "With the shortage of strength and resources, it is a very difficult task to monitor all the routes but the ACLC police have busted a number of gangs and recovered hundreds of motorcycles, even from rural Sindh and Balochistan," he said.
"Around 95% of these 70cc motorcycles are Chinese made and are on the criminals' favourite lists," Muhammad Ahsan, president of the Karachi Motorcycles Dealers Association, told The Express Tribune. "Some 75% of buyers purchase these motorcycles on installments."
The 70cc China motorcycle costs around Rs44,000 exclusive of the Rs3,500 excise registration fee, which includes the Rs350 charges for a number plate.
No way, no how
Motorcycle dealers strongly oppose the government's proposal to install trackers in motorcycles. "Try to understand my point. How can a middle-class or a lower-class person who cannot afford to buy a motorcycle outright be able to afford the expenses of the tracker or its monthly maintenance charges?" Ahsan questioned.
The tracker will cost around Rs6,500 with monthly charges of Rs1,500.
"The battery is the main tool to run the trackers in motorcycles but interestingly, more than 90% of motorcycles operate without batteries," said a representative of a tracker company. "Secondly, the motorcyclist should have a smart phone to keep a track of his motorcycle."
The city's residents welcome the move to curb motorcycle theft but are requesting the government to bear the expense of the trackers. They said that the initial installation charges, maintenance, monthly expenses and battery charges are too much for them to manage. In order to use the trackers, motorcyclists will have to replace the batteries every four months.
"This is a government's responsibility to take care of its citizens and their valuables. I appreciate the government's decision but I cannot bear the expenses," lamented Amir Siddiq, a resident of Karachi whose monthly income is Rs25,000. "I have a motorcycle and to pay Rs2,500 in installments for it each month is very difficult for me. So how can I afford the extra Rs1,500 each month for tracker charges?" he asked.
Citizens said that such proposals or campaigns like wearing helmets while riding motorcycles raise doubts on the intentions of the government or law enforcement agencies as such proposals or campaigns are launched occasionally to show performance. "The helmet campaign, registration number plate campaign and now this tracker campaign — there is definitely something wrong, as each government or police campaign is a publicity gimmick and definitely aims to benefit them or some companies," theorised another citizen, Irfanul Haq.
"If the government believes that this campaign will prove fruitful in the elimination of motorcycle lifting, it should dissolve the ACLC and provide citizens with trackers using the money paid as their salaries," he suggested.
Set into motion
Recently, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal held a meeting with representatives of motorcycle manufacturers' associations, tracking companies, the police, the excise department, the Sindh Rangers and CPLC to review the progress made in the exercise over the past few months.
It was observed that as per his directives, efforts were being made to achieve the objective through consensus among all stakeholders. Siyal told the meeting's participants that tracking devices were crucial to contain criminal elements, as not only were motorcyclists easy targets for criminals, but two-wheelers were also used for criminal activities. "The elimination of criminals and their gangs is among our top most priorities," he said. Representatives of tracking companies and manufacturers of motorcycles assured the minister of their support in the campaign.
Government negligent towards local motorcycle manufacturers
"Fitting trackers in the motorcycles will prove beneficial in the elimination of motorcycle theft and snatching," said SSP Bahadur. According to him, he was able to bust at least 18 gangs operating in the city with the help of a tracking system. "We had installed trackers in around 60 motorcycles on a trial basis and were able to bust 18 gangs."
He said that the other way to stop the theft or snatching of motorcycles is to stop the demand for such motorcycles. "When you stop the demand, there is a definite reduction in the supply," he explained.