‘Car-lifters using complex devices to unlock vehicles’

Members of a car lifter gang have disclosed that they use modern devices to disable any type of digital lock or security system to steal away expensive vehicles in less than a minute. The thieves have also cracked the advanced security systems installed in the vehicles, including trackers, keyless entry and push start.

During the investigation of the recently arrested gang members, the suspects revealed that they steal cars using devices equipped with modern technology which are capable of opening any type of computerised lock, including advanced tracking systems installed in the car.

According to the information obtained by the police, suspects who are involved in such incidents could easily steal a domestic or foreign-assembled vehicle. Citizens are worried about the continuous increase in car theft incidents.

Yasir, a citizen affected by car thieves, said that his car was parked outside his house, which had all security arrangements in place to secure it, yet the thieves stole his car and escaped.

The police also registered a case of car theft, but the car could not be recovered till date.

Rawalpindi Police arrested 1,129 car thieves this year and recovered 75 vehicles and 515 motorcycles from their possession. Police have advised citizens to use manual locks instead of computerized ones.

SP CIA Malik Tariq Mehboob, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that the gangs involved in car theft use internet calls or gateways to communicate with each other, which are extremely difficult to trace.

He said that the car thieves are equipped with such devices that could jam vehicle trackers as well as disable push-start, keyless entry and security systems.

On the question regarding increase in the incidents of demanding ransom after car theft, the SP CIA said that such incidents are less frequent, but for the last one or two months the car owners, whose cars had been stolen, are receiving calls for ransom after car theft in the garrison city. Such gangs mostly continue their operations from far furlong areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the suspects could secure their location using various modern devices. The police have also set up different teams to trace the accused involved in such incidents.

The SP CIA advised the citizens to use manual locks such as clutch lock, steering lock and tire lock to protect their vehicles and do not park them at any unsafe place. There have been more revelations in the police investigation and the police will soon arrest such gangs and present them before the public, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2022.