Delhi's Auto Bandits Busted: One Arrested in Major Car Theft Crackdown

New Delhi: A gang of auto lifters that was involved in stealing of high-end vehicles in the national capital has been busted, said Delhi Police on Monday.

According to the police, the accused Istiyak has previously been involved in more than 95 cases of Auto-Lifting, Theft, Arms Act, Attempt to Murder, and 1 MCOCA Case. 

Police stated that the formation of a specialized project team, composed of personnel from various West District police stations, to focus on tracing auto thieves and recovering stolen vehicles. 

On September 17, the AATS team, dedicated to tracking auto thieves, set a strategic trap based on extensive CCTV evidence. They identified a suspect arriving in a white car captured on footage from the Nisariya Mazid area in Seemapuri, police said. 

Police Chasedown Gang Member

“After that, the staff with the help of a private car tried to stop the car, but the car driver instantly made out and tried to flee from the spot. After a chase of almost 2 KM, the car stalled and the Police apprehended the car driver who was identified as Istiyak,” they added. 

A preliminary search of the recovered vehicle revealed several tools used for breaking into cars, including a wire cutter, screwdriver, nippers, three dummy car keys, and a broken lock from another high-end vehicle.

Later, a mobile phone belonging to the suspect, used to communicate with his associates via an internet-based application, was recovered from his possession, and a seizure report was prepared. Additionally, based on the confession of the accused, Istiyak, five more luxury cars were recovered from various hideouts where stolen vehicles were parked.

The recovered cars were found stolen from Police stations of Tilak Nagar, Vikaspuri, Punjabi Bagh, Saket and PS Teelamod, District Ghaziabad, U.P.

The accused has been arrested under the appropriate section of law and a search is underway for the co-accused, police said.