Member of hi-tech vehicle theft gang nabbed after brief encounter
The Gurugram police have arrested a member of an interstate hi-tech vehicle theft gang following a brief encounter. The police recovered a Creta car, a country-made pistol with two cartridges and various tools used for car theft, including eight nut-opening keys, one screwdriver, 23 keys, three scales and high-tech devices for unlocking vehicles.
A senior police officer said the gang members used advanced technology, including devices imported from Dubai, to unlock cars. The recovered equipment included an ECM (engine control module), key-making device, programming device, glass-breaking device, car keys, dongles, jammers, chipsets and motherboards.
According to the police, on Friday night, a team from the crime unit, Sector 10, led by Sub-Inspector Pramod Kumar, was conducting vehicle checks in Sector 9. When the police signalled a Creta car to stop, the driver ignored the signal and hit a barricade. The driver then fired at the police team, injuring an officer by hitting him with the car. In retaliation, the police fired two shots into the air and arrested the driver, identified as Sonu, a resident of Jakholi village in Kaithal district.
During interrogation, Sonu admitted to being a member of the hi-tech vehicle theft gang. He revealed that the gang is active in car thefts in Gurugram and Delhi. The Creta he was driving had been stolen from Safdarjung Enclave in Delhi last month. He further confessed that he and his associates had stolen 10 cars in Delhi and 14 in Gurugram.
ACP Varun Dahiya said the accused, who had studied only up to Class VII, could unlock any type of car. Police records show he had been previously involved in a theft case in Gurugram. The gang used modern equipment to hack into cars’ central locking systems and even started vehicles by altering their software. They communicated using walkie-talkies rather than mobile phones. The police have taken Sonu on a one-day remand and are conducting raids to arrest other gang members.
