WEB DESK: In the first five months of this year, Islamabad has witnessed a significant rise in vehicle thefts, with 254 automobiles and 1,675 motorbikes reported stolen or snatched. Police records reveal that Suzuki Mehran cars and Honda 125 motorcycles are the most targeted vehicles by criminals.
According to the data, Suzuki topped the list with 104 vehicles stolen, including 71 Mehrans. This was followed by Toyota with 76 cars and Honda with 22. Even luxury vehicles like Mercedes were not spared.
Historically, Toyota was the most stolen brand, but recent police operations have disrupted gangs specialising in these cars. As a result, Suzuki vehicles, particularly Mehran and Bolan vans, have become the primary targets. These stolen vehicles are often transported to Kashmir and other mountainous regions.
Toyota cars, preferred for their high ground clearance suitable for rough rural roads, are usually moved to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some rural areas of Punjab also see a high demand for stolen Toyota vehicles.
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Honda vehicles are more easily traced due to a forensic lab in Lahore, making them less appealing on the black market. Stolen Honda cars are often disassembled or resold after altering their engine and chassis numbers.
The ‘receivers’ of stolen Toyota cars, operating from Dara Adam Khel and Landi Kotal, also procure stolen Mehran and Alto cars, but typically newer models. Gangs sometimes hire ‘professional drivers’ to transport stolen cars from Islamabad to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, paying up to Rs20,000 per car.
Motorbike thefts have also been notable, with 1,675 motorcycles stolen in the first five months of the year. Honda motorcycles were the most stolen, with over 1,000 bikes, including 642 Honda 125cc, 351 CD-70, nine Honda 100cc, and one Honda 150cc. United motorcycles were the second most stolen, followed by Union Star, Hi-Speed, Yamaha, and Suzuki.
