At 87.6 per one lakh population, Delhi also has a much higher rate as compared to the national rate of 12.5. Only 20% of these stolen vehicles are recovered, say cops.
In 2011, 14,668 motor vehicles were stolen in Delhi, which is a marginal decrease from 2010's figure of 14,966. While 9,203 of these vehicles were two-wheelers, 5,050 were cars. Only about 2,957 of these vehicles were recovered, show Delhi Police statistics.
Motor vehicle thefts comprise of 27% of the total IPC crimes in Delhi.
The latest National Crime Records Bureau report says 'auto theft' in the country accounted for 44.4% (1,51,200 cases) of the total theft cases, which accounted for an increase of 2.5% in 2011 as compared to 2010 (1,47,475 cases). Theft other than automobiles has shown a declining trend of 0.7% from 1,82,837 (in 2010) to 1,89,600 (in 2011). The urban agglomeration centres accounted for 38.8% (67,880 out of 1,51,200 cases) of the total auto theft cases in the country.
"The acute shortage of parking space and the general practice of parking vehicles on roadsides, coupled with the indifference of a majority of motor vehicle owners towards installing anti-auto theft equipment, is a major contributory factor to these thefts," said a senior police officer.
Many of the stolen vehicles are used by criminals in the commission of other crimes, making this a problem area for the police. Delhi Police has been sending out advisories to the public through advertisements and leaflets requesting vehicle owners to buy security gadgets. Repeat offenders are also a big reason for the alarming increase in motor vehicle thefts.
