Dealing with auto theft and carjacking

The arrest of seven auto thieves with six stolen vehicles in their possession in a drive by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in the capital and in Sylhet is a clear indication that gangs are involved in this crime. Determination of how many of them resort to stealing cars or to carjacking is necessary to gauge the extent of the crime in question. Car theft is committed when the vehicle is left alone with no passengers inside but carjacking requires use of violence or tricks to get rid of a vehicle's driver or occupiers. The report has used the term 'carjackers' perhaps without much thought to it. It should be ascertained whether the members of the gangs arrested in Dhaka and Sylhet were actually involved in carjacking. Usually parked cars with no one inside or keeping a watch over them are targeted for theft. Even the best locking system is no guarantee for the security of cars. Car thieves know how to open the doors and start the car. Years ago an arrested member of a gang revealed that a key he made was capable of opening doors of any car running in the city.

This does not, however, rule out carjacking in the country. A few drivers of covered vans and goods-loaded trucks were killed at the time of forcibly overpowering them on highways, mostly on the Dhaka-Chittagong one. A handful of taxi drivers also embraced the same fate at the hands of carjackers. Stolen or violently seized cars are sold after altering their documents and applying a coat of different colour. More alarming is the fact that the stolen cars are used for committing other crimes starting from carrying drugs to killing rivals. Covered vans or trucks, when stolen, are left abandoned after looting their goods. So the crimes here merit different approaches and vigilance if the purpose is to fight the menace successfully. Auto theft, whatever may be its form, cannot be committed by organised gangs if the law enforcement agencies are on guard. It is impossible for gang members to dispose of such vehicles if some dishonest men in uniform do not turn a blind eye to such crimes or actively cooperate with them.

It is exactly at this point, the issue of highly sophisticated devices comes to the fore. Already, reliable car tracking devices are available in the country. For car owners or users such devices should not prove highly costly. Owners should make the best use of such technologies in their own interest. There is no point refusing to surrender a car at gun point and risking one's life. Better it would be to report to the police immediately. Tracking of the stolen or forcibly taken away cars is so simple and easy that the thieves or carjackers stand no chance of going far before they are caught in the act. So installing car tracking device in every vehicle should be made mandatory to bring an end to auto theft or carjacking.