ACLC declares war on car bazaars

Karachi
The anti-car lifting cell has asked the provincial government to ban the used-vehicle bazaars set up in North Karachi and Korangi on Sundays as many four- and two-wheelers sold there were either stolen ones or registered with fake documents.
Besides, the ACLC will also start a campaign in the city next week to inform the public about vehicle crime and fraud.
ACLC chief SSP Irfan Ali Bahadur told The News that he had written a letter to the provincial government expressing his concerns over the matter and requesting a ban on the car bazaars.
“We have received several complaints from buyers who say that they vehicle they had purchased from the bazaars was either a stolen one or registered with forged documents,” he said.
“Car lifters punch fake numbers on the vehicles’ chassis and engines and sell them at the bazaars,” he added.
“We are launching a vehicle crime awareness campaign throughout the city next week.”
As part of the drive, banners will be set up along the major roads of the city and the ACLC staff will distribute pamphlets at interchanges.
Bahadur advised those intending to buy used vehicles to purchase one only after completing the entire verification process to ensure that they were not being duped.
“You do not buy a vehicle everyday, so it’s better to go through the trouble just once.”
The official said intending customers should only purchase a vehicle from credible showrooms and not fall for extraordinarily low prices.
He also advised that a vehicle should be bought only after verifying the original registration book, the official registration number plate and customs clearance documents.
The vehicle should be inspected by the Motor Registration Authority and the ACLC before payment
A buyer should obtain a copy of the seller’s national identification card, residential address and landline telephone number. Besides, vehicles should not be bought or kept on an open transfer letter.
The official advised vehicle owners to install extra locks and electronic anti-theft devices. He pointed out that overall, 80 percent vehicles are stolen and 20 percent snatched.
Identification numbers should be sand blasted on the front and rear wind screens of vehicle as thieves or snatchers can immediately switch number plates.
Motorists are bound by law as provided in Section 160-A of the West Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules 1969 to sand blast numbers on the vehicles.
Vehicle owners should also paint the registration number on both sides of the vehicle doors – letters on the rear doors and digits on the front doors.
They should also only display the registration plates issued by the excise department.
Moreover, to identify vehicles confiscated from thieves or snatchers, owners should leave an identification mark at a place known only to them.
They should also hide their visiting cards, handwritten notes or addresses etc at some place in their vehicles so they could easily be returned to them.
Reduction in vehicle crime
The SSP said there had been a significant decrease in vehicle crime in the year 2014. He added that several major vehicle-lifting gangs were busted by the ACLC.
The official said when he took charge of his current office the four-wheeler theft and snatching cases on an average were 13 per day. This has now decreased to eight vehicles per day. The motorcycle theft and snatching cases have reduced from 63 to 61 per day.
The four-wheeler recovery rate has increased from 50 percent to 57 percent – 2,085 recovered in 2014.
Similarly, the motorcycle recovery rate has increased from 18 percent to 21 percent – 4,619 recovered last year.
Between August and December 2014, the ACLC nabbed 525 suspects and busted 30 vehicle-lifting gangs.
It also arrested 63 proclaimed offenders and absconders. Besides, the cell also seized 18 pistols and 10kg hashish.