4 vehicle thieves held after shootout

The Delhi Police arrested four vehicle thieves after a brief exchange of fire in Mehrauli on the intervening night of October 21 and 22.

The police said they arrested the gang members, including the kingpin, Farman, after a two-month-long investigation into a syndicate involved in high-end car theft across Delhi.

Crime Branch DCP Sanjay Kumar Sain said, “The encounter occurred around 12.45 am on the Zafar Mahal road when Farman, along with his associates — Mohsin, Sahabzada and Zahid — was driving a stolen vehicle with a fake number plate.”

The police received a tip-off about the gang’s presence in Mehrauli and they positioned themselves in two separate cars. The police said the suspects were signalled to stop; however, instead of complying, Farman opened fire at the officers in a bid to escape.

A police officer shot the vehicle’s tyre, forcing it to stop. “Despite the gang’s attempts to resist arrest, officers managed to overpower them following a scuffle, during which an inspector sustained a wound on his hand,” said an officer.

Farman, a seasoned criminal with 58 prior cases against him, was found carrying a loaded pistol. The police seized the weapon along with two live cartridges and several modern tools used for car theft.

The police said the gang had stolen over 50 cars in the past few months, adding that they targeted high-end vehicles that were sold to receivers in Meerut for Rs 1–1.5 lakh each.

The police said they seized several tools used by the gang, including a decoding machine, engine control modules and other equipment designed to tamper with vehicle identification numbers and gain access to car locks.

Police officials stated further investigation in the case was underway, adding that they would trace the remaining members of the gang and their network of receivers. They said the authorities concerned were also probing the source of the weapons used by the criminals.