Scrap dealers found involved in car snatching, theft cases in Karachi

KARACHI: Karachi police launched crackdowns on suspected scrap dealers over their alleged involvement in car snatching and theft cases, ARY News reported on Tuesday.

A probe conducted by the Karachi police department found scrap dealers’ involvement in car snatching and theft cases.

While addressing a press conference today, Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Muhammad Kaleem said that a crackdown is being launched on the scrap dealers who are allegedly involved in car theft and snatching cases.

The SSP AVLC said that a gang of scrap dealers was busted in Liaquatabad, whereas, the members of another gang involved in motorcycle theft cases were arrested in Lyari.

The revelations were made after the police checked the criminal record of a wounded street criminal a few days ago. The police detected the criminal record of the arrested suspect and found that he was involved in a car theft case.

After expanding the scope of the probe, it emerged that the accused remained in contact with another suspect who deals in scrap items.

Kaleem said that the scrap dealer used to purchase stolen or snatched vehicles from the thieves and later sell their spare parts separately or install them in other vehicles and rickshaws.

The AVLC officials also seized four vehicles, chassis and a large number of spare parts from the possession of the arrested suspects.

SSP Kaleem said that the accused sold most of the punched vehicles. Moreover, three motorcycle lifters were arrested in Lyari who revealed their connections with four scrap dealers.

“The accused men are working in an organised network. Car theft incidents would be reduced after the crackdowns. There are 31 exit routes in Karachi including Toll Plaza. We have arrested 17 members belonging to the two gangs and some of them had already been arrested earlier.

Muhammad Kaleem said that the arrested scrap dealer Raja confessed to selling more than 20 stolen vehicles. He added that the accused used to purchase an old vehicle at the price of Rs150,000 and later sold the car with a profit of Rs10,000.