PUNE: Housing societies in the fringe areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Hadapsar, Chatushrungi and Sinhagad Road police stations, besides Ahmednagar Road, are more vulnerable to vehicle thefts, a study of 708 such cases between January and October has shown.
“A rapid growth of new housing societies and market places in these areas, inadequate security, multiple public amenities on busy thoroughfares like Ahmednagar Road and vast police jurisdictions are some of the factors that make the fringe areas prone to vehicle thefts,” deputy commissioner of police (crime) Bachchan Singh, who commissioned the study, said.
“Keeping the study findings in mind, we have decided to have two special teams to detect vehicle theft cases,” he said, adding, “Apart from detection, the teams will also develop measures to avert vehicle thefts.”
Each special squad will have an inspector, a sub-inspector and about 10 constables.
A majority of vehicles were stolen from the parking lots of societies as compared to roads and other public spaces, the study revealed. A total of 1,225 vehicle thefts were reported during between January and October last year. “In 2019, police registered 1,441 vehicle thefts. Of these, 552 cases have been solved,” Singh said.
The study includes thefts of all sorts of vehicles, like twoand three-wheelers. “Of the 708 cases till October this year, we have solved 221,” he said.
The study revealed that 295 vehicles were stolen from public roads, 335 from the parking lots of housing societies and the remaining from the public spaces like parking areas of religious places, markets and others. “About 44% vehicles were reported stolen from the parking spaces of the residential premises,” Singh said.
Another trend that emerged in the study is that most vehicles were stolen on Wednesdays (112 vehicles), followed by the other weekdays and weekends, Singh said.
“It has been found that a maximum number of vehicles were reported stolen between 6pm and 9pm, while very few were reported between 6am and 9am,” he added.