New Delhi: "Don't compare Delhi with Lakshadweep and say that the rate of vehicles stolen here is higher."
This was how Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal responded to the force's dismal record of recovering vehicles lifted from different parts of the national capital.
Defending his subordinates, the police commissioner said increase in number of vehicles, reluctance of owners to install security devices and inadequate parking facilities were major factors behind auto-thefts.
"You cannot expect a watch and ward situation. Owners are reluctant towards spending on anti-theft devices while inadequate parking is also adding to the problem," he said.
The number of vehicles lifted from the national capital is increasing every year with last year registering an increase of 1,754 to touch 9,895. However, only 1,934 vehicles were recovered last year.
Motorcycles topped the list of stolen vehicles with 4,694 went missing followed by 4,022 cars, 520 scooters, 162 trucks, 105 three-wheelers and seven buses among others.
"Indifference of owners and police may care attitude and re-registration of stolen vehicles in other states without completing procedures are other reasons why vehicle thieves prefer the capital," Dadwal said.
The most affected areas in the capital were Prashant Vihar (401 cases), Rohini (302), Saraswati Vihar (238), Malviya Nagar (207), Patel Nagar (174), Anand Vihar (172), Mansarovar Park (172), Paschim Vihar (171), Shalimar Bagh (169) and Pandav Nagar (163).
Meanwhile, the city has witnessed a decline in cases of dacoity and robbery while there was an increase in snatching incidents.
