KARACHI, Sept 18: There has been a sharp rise in incidents of motorcycle theft and snatching in the city during the first 16 days of Ramazan, as compared to the corresponding period last year, Dawn has learnt.

Official figures show that 866 motorcycles, or an average 54 vehicles a day, have been reported snatched or stolen since the month of fasting began. In the first 16 days of Ramazan last year, however, 641 motorcycles were reported snatched or stolen in the city.

This year, the maximum number of motorcycles – 72 – was stolen or snatched from the jurisdiction of the Preedy police station, followed by the jurisdictions of the North Nazimabad and the Kharadar police stations with 41 and 40 motorcycles respectively.

In 2007, the maximum numbers of two-wheelers were taken away from the jurisdictions of the Preedy, Ferozabad and Korangi police stations respectively, during the first 16 days of Ramazan.

If the current pattern holds true for the rest of the month, the number of motorcycles stolen or snatched during the month of fasting may reach 1,600 by Eid, which could set a record.

The statistics show that 80 motorcycles were reported snatched or stolen on September 8, the highest figure reported in a single day.

Meanwhile, 1,520 motorcycles were reported snatched or stolen last month (August 2008), which experts say is an unprecedented figure. They added that this can be blamed to some extent on rising unemployment, inflation and the fact that the police strength has not been increased. But the foremost reason behind the surge in crime is the former provincial police chief’s experiment of de-centralising the Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC), they pointed out.

“Shockingly, a random survey of any police station in the city will show that many policemen are using motorcycles that were recovered, without showing them recovered on the record,” maintained a source. “This is a widespread practice that is taking place in nearly every police station in the city.”

Proper impound system needed

However, SSP ACLU Dr Amin Yousafzai said that one of the principal reasons behind the surge in motorcycle crime was the increase in the registration of new motorcycles in the city.

Data available with the Excise Department shows that the number of new, registered, motorcycles stood at 72,700 in 2001. This figure has steadily increased over the years and in 2007, the number of new, registered motorcycles rose to 198,711.

A total number of 919,472 motorcycles are registered in Karachi with the Excise Department.

SSP Yousafzai said his unit tended to focus on the theft and snatching of cars, and that this may be a factor that has contributed to the rise in motorcycle-related crime. “After the recent notification of returning the unit to its past form, we are now making renewed efforts to focus on automobile theft and snatching,” he explained.

Various sources also said, however, that the prevalent system by which the traffic police impound illegally-parked motorcycles must be streamlined, since that could be making matters easier for criminals. “Wrongly-parked motorcycles are picked up mainly by privately-hired personnel, who load them on to pickup trucks,” they pointed out. “There is overwhelming chance for foul play in this system, especially these days as people go out shopping at night. A proper, transparent system of removing motorcycles from non-parking areas, and impounding them in police lots, needs to be developed.”