Worrying numbers of motorcycle theft emerge in Lahore

LAHORE: In the provincial capital, all previous records of motorcycle theft have been broken this year.

Each year, nearly 660 working class citizens are deprived of their motorcycles by thieves and snatchers. This year, more than 2,187 motorcycles have been stolen in just 11 months.

Despite the failed efforts made by the operations department to prevent motorcycle theft, the investigation wing succeeded in catching motorcycle thieves to some extent.

A motorcycle is known as just a two-wheeler and often deemed a middle-class ride, but in reality, there are around 5.9 million motorcycles on the roads across the city.

The price of this vehicle, often bought by middle class citizens and citizens of lower income backgrounds, is somewhere between Rs45000 to Rs125,000. In the case where the vehicle is stolen, the only way to drop children to schools or commute towards office and other places is disrupted.

According to police data, nearly 1.5 million motorcyclists across the city have purchased motorcycles on monthly installments. For a white collar man, this vehicle is no less than a blessing and if someone loses his or her ride, it is quite a shocking loss for them.

According to statistics of motorcycle theft, 4,524 motorcycles were stolen in the first 11 months of 2018, but this year all records of previous years have been broken so far in the first 11 months of 2019, with 6,711 motorcycles stolen.

Saddar division topped the records with 1,530 motorcycle thefts, 1,321 motorcycles were stolen in City division, 805 motorcycles were stolen in Iqbal Town division, 1,302 were stolen from Cantt division, 634 were stolen from Civil Lines division and 1,119 motorcycles were stolen from Model Town division.

SSP Operations Muhammad Naveed told The Express Tribune that the police are taking measures on an emergency basis to prevent motorcycle theft. “However, without the cooperation of citizens, theft prevention is impossible.”

The SSP added that citizens should not park their motorcycles without wire locks, even when motorcycles are parked indoors. “If you go for shopping or any other place, then try to park at a motorcycle parking stand and ask for a receipt or parking slip.”

The police have been conducting checkpost raids and the data of all accused involved in motorcycle theft has been collected, he added. “A crackdown has been launched against those accused of motorcycle theft.”

SSP Investigation Zeeshan Asghar said that 34 per cent of motorcycle theft cases have been traced this year. “Police have recovered 2,265 motorcycles while 4,446 cases are under investigation. A total of 1,444 criminals have been issued challans while 821 cases have been dropped after investigation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2019.