Curbing crime: Verification of vehicles now an SMS away

Nation-wide service aims to control car thefts, protect prospective vehicle buyers from fraud.

ISLAMABAD:

Verifying vehicles’ couldn’t get any simpler. Rescue 15 Islamabad has launched a service by which people across the country can verify the legitimacy of any Islamabad-registered vehicle by sending its engine or chassis number in a Short Message Service (SMS) to 8521.

The Stolen Vehicles Identification System (SVIS), set up by Islamabad Police’s Rescue 15 department in collaboration with Digital Seal Pvt. Limited, was formally launched by the Inspector General of Police Bani Amin Khan here on Sunday.

Highlighting the salient features of the service, the IGP said that once the engine or chassis number of a vehicle is sent via SMS to 8521, details of its status will be send to the enquirer within 20 seconds. The details will also be forwarded to the police, who will disseminate the details to all police pickets of the respective city for the vehicle’s interception.

The IGP said that the service can be accessed from anywhere in the country and hoped that it will help in controlling car thefts besides protecting prospective vehicle buyers from fraud.

“Preventing car thefts is our first priority,” said the IGP, adding that Islamabad Police has successfully busted gangs of car-lifters and also recovered 10 stolen vehicles from their possession. He said that over 62 halting points have been established across the city to function during the night, while strength at pickets at entry and exit points of city has been intensified.

The IGP added that several receivers of stolen vehicles have been apprehended due to the coordination of Islamabad and K-P police.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2011.