Elderly car lifter from Ghotki arrested in Karachi

A 57-year-old alleged car lifter from Ghotki, who reportedly posed as a worshipper at mosques before stealing vehicles parked outside, has been arrested in Karachi, according to SSP Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) Khalid Mustafa Korai.

The suspect allegedly travelled from Ghotki to Karachi specifically to steal cars, moving the stolen vehicles out of the city before dawn and selling them in Quetta, police officials said. Investigators have also traced a criminal record comprising 14 cases against him.

According to police, CCTV footage recorded several months ago at a mosque in a posh area of Gulshan-e-Iqbal went viral on social media. The footage showed the suspect offering prayers inside the mosque and then, immediately after coming out, skilfully stealing a Mehran parked outside.

Using the CCTV footage, AVLC investigators identified and subsequently arrested the suspect, identified as Insaf Ali, son of Mir Khan.

Police said the suspect had allegedly been involved in criminal activities since 2000. His first case, registered 26 years ago, involved an alleged vehicle theft, followed by several other cases over the years. Police said he was adept at disguising himself and had been selling stolen vehicles in Balochistan.

SSP AVLC Khalid Mustafa Korai said police had traced 14 cases on the suspect's criminal record.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly disclosed that he targeted vehicles around Fajr prayers and moved the stolen cars out of Karachi before sunrise, Korai said.

According to the SSP, the suspect also disclosed that he sold the stolen vehicles in Quetta. Police have obtained information about a buyer of the stolen vehicles, and an AVLC team will travel to Quetta to arrest him, he said.

Korai said the suspect did not stay in Karachi for long and would flee directly to Ghotki after stealing a vehicle.

The SSP urged citizens to install two trackers in expensive vehicles, explaining that car-lifting gangs often disable the first tracker, while a second device can help police track the vehicle and trace the suspects.

Police are also tightening the net around other individuals identified during the investigation, officials said.

Meanwhile, Karachi Police Chief Azad Khan has directed police officers to utilise all available resources to curb crime, including car and motorcycle lifting, protect the lives and property of citizens, and maintain law and order in the city.

He ordered that effective action against criminal elements be intensified.

He said the Karachi police's top priority was to protect citizens' lives and property, eliminate crime and maintain peace and order in the city. He also directed all police officers to improve their performance and ensure result-oriented measures to achieve these objectives.