In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police has dismantled a sophisticated inter-state auto theft syndicate operating across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. The racket involved stealing high-end vehicles, tampering with chassis and engine numbers, and re-registering them using forged documents and manipulated digital records.
The investigation, which began with a single SUV theft complaint in Pitampura, led to the arrest of ten accused, including the alleged kingpin Damandeep Singh alias Lucky. Police recovered 31 stolen luxury vehicles and uncovered a wider network involving insiders, such as a government clerk and a software engineer.
Officials believe that over 1,000 vehicles may have been fraudulently registered, with some linked to other criminal activities like narcotics trafficking. The probe remains ongoing, and further arrests are expected as authorities trace the entire network.
The syndicate's modus operandi included stealing vehicles from urban areas, altering their identification numbers, and using forged documents to register them in different states. The involvement of a government clerk facilitated the manipulation of official records, while the software engineer helped create fake digital documentation.
Delhi Police has urged citizens to verify vehicle documents thoroughly when purchasing used cars and to report any suspicious transactions. The recovered vehicles are being examined to identify their original owners, and efforts are underway to return them.
This operation highlights the growing sophistication of auto theft rings and the importance of inter-state coordination among law enforcement agencies. The case also underscores the need for stricter verification processes in vehicle registration systems to prevent such fraud.
