A data accessed by The Pioneer reveals that a total of 16 four-wheelers have been stolen per day in the national Capital in this year, however, marking a gradual decline in the theft of such vehicles since 2021. Moreover, it looks like thieves seem less interested in stealing e-vehicles which account for about one-third of the total numbers of theft of four-wheelers this year. In 2023, a total of 17 four-wheelers were stolen while in 2022, 18 were stolen and in 2021, 19 were stolen. A data exclusively accessed by The Pioneer showed a total of 4,074 four-wheelers were stolen in 2024 till September 15. The number showed a gradual decline from the past four year with 2023 recording 6,097 four-wheelers, 2022 recording 6,427 and 2021 recording 7,016. A Delhi Police officer from the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) said that such decline has been visible due to a heightened police patrolling at night. The decline can be attributed to a heightened and active police patrolling in the last two years, he said. Another police official from the AATS squad of Dwarka district added, Effective barricading in police station areas, patrolling, night traps and arrest of some active auto lifters can be some reasons for the decline. While these are observations from my own district, common factors are the same everywhere in Delhi. Further, this year till September 15, a total of 1,373 e-vehicles, including e-rickshaw, scooty, motorcycle and cars, were stolen by auto-lifters. This trend remains for the last four year wherein thieves dont particularly seem to be interested in stealing such vehicles. In 2023, a total of 1,777 e-vehicles were stolen, in 2022 a total of 1,799 were stolen, and in 2021, a total of 2,391 were stolen across Delhi marking a sharp contrast to the numbers of vehicles stolen run by fuel. Police officials attributed this decline to various reasons including the presence of GPS trackers and difficulty in the movement of such vehicles. Most of the professional gangs of auto-lifters are from outside Delhi. The stolen vehicles are moved outside the city on the same night or day, specifically two-wheelers in Mewat and four wheelers in Meerut, Sambhal and further to the north-east states. This factor regarding movements of e-vehicles in the same night is not possible for auto-lifters, a police officer stated. Another one added that in these particular e-vehicles, a GPS system is installed in the batteries by the companies. With the help of these systems, police can easily track the criminals hence deterring them to steal them, he said.

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