Open House: what steps should be taken to curb rise in vehicle theft cases in the city?

CONTRACTORS NEED TO BE MORE VIGILANT

It is really sad to know that so many vehicles are being stolen daily in the city. It is a direct loss to the owners. The remedy lies with the contractors at the parking lots who really pay scant intentions to checking the vehicle at the exit points. Mostly there are no persons deployed to receive the parking tickets. The market people should deploy honest watchmen where there are no paid parking lots like in Sectors 7, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16 and so on. This will also put stop to parking the vehicles in haphazard manner. The deployment of police person(s) can also really contribute much to reducing the thefts

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Install high-tech CCTV cameras

To address the issue, install high-tech CCTV cameras are in the city. Fix responsibility of the area police team to follow the instructions of seniors and daily theft/ trace report from ground level to senior management. Impose exemplary punishment to defaulters. It is due to the failure of city police that theft cases and crime rate is rising. The administration should go for privatisation as like security in hospitals, malls and hotels etc. Public awareness camps/ advertisement be arranged in public interest.

Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh

Regularly analyse theft patterns

To curb motor vehicle thefts in Chandigarh, police should implement innovative measures. Install AI-powered CCTV cameras with license plate recognition technology at strategic locations. Establish a dedicated vehicle theft unit with specialized investigators. Introduce a vehicle registration and tracking system using RFID or GPS. Increase community engagement through awareness campaigns and citizen-police collaboration. Regularly analyse theft patterns and deploy proactive patrols in high-risk areas. Additionally, enhance forensic capabilities to improve recovery rates.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

Improve patrolling in vulnerable areas

To curb vehicle thefts, the police should enhance surveillance by installing high-resolution cameras at key points, improve patrolling in vulnerable areas and deploy GPS-based tracking systems in public and private vehicles. Public awareness campaigns on safety measures, coupled with stronger coordination with neighbouring states for recovery are vital. Additionally, setting up a dedicated task force for quick response and leveraging advanced technology such as AI in monitoring could significantly reduce thefts.

Amanjot Kaur, Mohali

Identify suspects, track stolen vehicles

The police could significantly reduce vehicle thefts by implementing a multi-pronged approach. Firstly, they should invest in advanced surveillance systems and facial recognition technology to identify suspects and track stolen vehicles. Secondly, increasing police visibility in theft-prone areas, especially at night, could deter criminals. Thirdly, public awareness campaigns should educate citizens on vehicle security measures such as using anti-theft devices and reporting suspicious activity. Finally, strengthening cooperation between the police and neighbouring jurisdictions could help apprehend cross-border thieves.

Gurdev Singh, Mohali

Create network of informants

The police in Chandigarh should implement a comprehensive strategy to curb vehicle thefts. This could involve enhancing surveillance through advanced technologies like CCTV cameras and drones, improving police patrols in vulnerable areas, and raising public awareness about vehicle security measures. Additionally, the police could collaborate with local communities to establish neighbourhood watch programmes and create a strong network of informants. By combining these approaches, the police can significantly reduce vehicle thefts in Chandigarh and improve city’s overall safety.

Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali

Report suspicious activity promptly

The police in Chandigarh should implement a comprehensive strategy to curb vehicle thefts. This could involve enhancing surveillance through CCTV cameras in strategic locations, improving community policing to foster vigilance among residents, and investing in advanced vehicle tracking systems. Additionally, the police could collaborate with local dealerships to raise awareness about vehicle theft prevention measures, such as using anti-theft devices and reporting suspicious activity promptly. By adopting these measures, the police can significantly reduce vehicle thefts and improve the recovery rate in Chandigarh.

Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali

Using advanced tech for quick recovery

To curb vehicle thefts, Chandigarh police should enhance surveillance with more CCTV cameras, deploy GPS tracking in vehicles, and conduct regular community awareness programmes. Strengthening patrolling in hotspots and using advanced technology for quick recovery can also help. Collaborating with neighbouring states for a unified database of stolen vehicles will ensure swift action and deterrence. These measures collectively can significantly reduce vehicle thefts and improve recovery rates.

Sargunpreet Kaur, Mohali

Increase patrolling in parking areas

Strengthen anti-vehicle theft unit

The anti-vehicle theft unit of police be strengthened by providing more staff. Parking contractors should employ more staff and must collect parking slips at exit points. They rarely bother to collect them and so anyone can drive away with stolen vehicles. More CCTV camera be installed in parkings. Increase police patrolling in parking lots.

HS Dhanoa, Chandigarh

Preventive steps need of the hour

Curbing vehicle thefts in city requires preventive steps with stringent law enforcement along with enhanced surveillance with CCTV cameras, AI and drones. People must keep their vehicles properly locked and equip them with GPS-based technology and other anti-theft devices. Data base of vehicle repair shops be monitored as stolen vehicles are often sold after dismantling. Lastly, the companies should also introduce updated anti-theft technologies in vehicles to stop the frequent thefts.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Unholy nexus between police, criminals

The root cause analysis of the problem would reveal many unwanted truths. Ranging from easy money to commit well-planned crimes to non-availability of suitable jobs to collusion with unscrupulous policemen; it has everyone involved. Studies have revealed that such thefts are common place in congested city markets. Working CCTV cameras should be must in all city parking spaces and it should be a direct responsibility of parking contractors.

Deepak TAAK, Panchkula

Police minting money by issuing challans

The Chandigarh police is answerable to the stolen vehicles. It means they are busy in minting money in challans. The security system should be fixed in cars to prevent the theft. The nexus of selling stolen vehicles should be thwarted. Chandigarh police need to be brought under scanner. It is said that the criminals can't escape from Chandigarh as it can be closed.

Opinder K Sekhon, Chandigarh

Launch awareness campaigns

The anti-auto theft staff of the Crime Branch should launch a special awareness campaign amongst the public to adopt a layered approach to prevent car theft. This includes the installation of a car alarm, anti-theft device, GPS tracking system and the stolen vehicle recovery system. All should safeguard their vehicle identification number found on the dashboard on the driver's side of the car, making it harder for thieves to sell a stolen car.

BRIGADIER ADVITYA MADAN, CHANDIGARH

Award exemplary punishment

The UT Administration should install more CCTV cameras at all vulnerable points to nab vehicle thieves and other anti-social elements. The help of internet should also be taken to take pictures of the area where the theft took place. The courts should not grant bails to thieves and also award maximum punishment up to 10 years. This will act as a good deterrent to all anti-social elements.

KC Rana, Chandigarh

Make People aware of preventive measures

To address the problem, high-quality cameras should be installed at the inner/isolated areas of the city. The police should increase the night patrolling in residential areas. Robbers should be given harsh penalties along with speedy trial. These will act as a deterrent for criminals. Officials of the traffic police should be divided into special units with only aim that is to boost the recovery of stolen motor vehicles. People should be made aware with precautionary measures by distributing pamphlets, TV ads

or by skits in public places.

Aarav Sharma, Chandigarh

Call for stronger surveillance

Chandigarh faces an alarming average of three vehicle thefts per day. To curb this, a full-proof surveillance system is essential, with centralised CCTV coverage in every corner of the city. Parking authorities must be held accountable for thefts from authorised parking spots. Additionally, appointing local watchmen with community support will increase street-level vigilance. It's crucial to expose interstate car theft networks and penalise those involved.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Be vigilant, lock YOUR vehicle properly

First of all, people should avoid parking their vehicle in prohibited areas. Secondly, there must be proper surveillance done through CCTV cameras installed in the vulnerable areas. One should properly lock their vehicle. The police authorities should be active enough to probe into the matter immediately. What matters at the end is the alertness of the individuals.

MALKEET KAUR VIRK, PATIALA

Conduct patrols in high-risk zones

Residents of Chandigarh have voiced various solutions to tackle the rising vehicle thefts in the city. Key suggestions include increasing CCTV coverage in vulnerable areas, installing GPS tracker in all vehicles, and conducting regular police patrols in high-risk zones. Some citizens recommend stricter laws, faster response times, and dedicated anti-theft task forces. Improved public awareness campaigns can also play a crucial role in reducing these crimes.

Aarav Singh, Mohali

Install iron grill on locality entrance

Required strong fencing around the parking lots. Accountability of parking contractors must be fixed in case of stolen of vehicles from paid parking. CCTV must be installed at exit and entry gate under the control of concerned area SHO. The RWA should come forwarded to fixed permanent iron grill on all entry roads in the locality, only pedestrian can pass through. One gate in the locality opened at night from 11pm to 5 am and it must be manually operated.

ANOKH SINGH KAHLON

Avoid parking vehicles in open

It is alarming that on an average three cars are stolen in Chandigarh each day. Many cars are parked in open spaces outside the residential area or in unauthorised parking lots due to inadequacies of authorised parking lots. The parking fee being very high in malls many people park outside to save on the fee. This makes the cars more vulnerable for thefts. The police in PCR vans are not proactive on the matter and they usually arrive when the theft has already taken place. The menace can be curbed by the car owner taking responsibility of his car’s safety while at the same time policemen being present in plain clothes at all vulnerable areas.

YASH KHETARPAL, PANCHKULA

CREATE employment avenues FOR YOUTH

Theft of vehicles are on increase in Tricity due to the lack of proper parking places. The need of the hour is to install HD CCTV cameras at vulnerable places to act as deterrent and early detection of thefts. Traffic marshalls and RWAs should be roped in must be taken to survey and monitor the parking area and appealing to public to park vehicles at designated places to avoid thefts. Lastly, employment of youth be taken care so that they don't resort to thefts and pretty crimes.

Col TBS Bedi, Mohali

Special team should be constituted

The police and public both are equally responsible for increasing the rate of stolen vehicles. Vehicle owners must park their vehicle at proper places and lock them. The best way out of difficulty is to wade through it. CCTV cameras should be put at different important places. Law catches flies, but let hornets go free. Special teams should be appointed in the Police Department for search and recovery of stolen vehicles. It is not a difficult job in a modern

and well-planned city.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali.

Keep tab on outsiders

CCTVs in every nook and cranny of the city should be installed to curb the menace of vehicles theft. The government should keep a vigil on migrants, squatters, PG inmates to nab the culprits. It is the duty of the landlords as well to keep a tab on the suspicious activities of the tenants and inform the police. The police should adopt latest techniques to curb theft of vehicles.

Abhilasha Gupta

Beat Box system should be revived

Theft of motor vehicles from the city needs to be curbed. For this the Law enforcement agencies of the Tricity need to share data about the history-sheeters involved in vehicle thefts.

The beat box system in the

sectors should be revived.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

Question for next week

The UT Administration has started serving notices on the residents of one kanal and larger houses for violating building bylaws by failing to install rooftop solar panels. What more steps should be taken to encourage people to install solar panels on their houses ?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com