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Ghaziabad Police have arrested four interstate vehicle-lifters for their involvement in a sophisticated car theft operation. As per a ToI report, the gang employed high-tech devices to hack into car security codes and bypass engine control modules, allowing them to steal cars which were later sold in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, and Mumbai.
ADCP (crime) Sachidanand told ToI that the gang used a spoofing device to intercept radio signals between the car’s remote key and the vehicle. They then decrypted the code from these signals, downloading it onto a laptop or a portable hacking tool. By emulating this code, they could unlock the car and steal it easily.
These devices, costing anywhere from INR 30,000 to lakh, are commonly found in car workshops to assist with unlocking accidentally locked vehicles, engine restarts, and alarm system fixes.
After stealing a car, the gang would use a jammer to disable the GPS tracking. They would then search for and remove the GPS device from the car before selling it to other buyers.
The police suspect that since 2013, the gang has stolen more than 500 vehicles.
The arrested individuals were identified as Noor Mohammad alias Rinku (32) from Bulandshahr, Hakeem (28) from Baghpat, Mohsin alias Sonu (32) from Meerut, and Shakir (32) from Sunder Nagari, Delhi. Other gang members, Ismail, Sunil Kala, and Chaand Mohmmad alias Chandal, are currently on the run, with Rinku leading the gang alongside Chaand.
The investigation revealed that Noor used to work as a carpenter and Hakeem sold milk, but both had financial struggles. They learned car theft using electronic devices or tabs and later teamed up with Shakir, who used to collect scrap but joined the gang due to dissatisfaction with his income. Sonu, who worked in a mobile repair shop in Meerut, started stealing cars with another individual named Zaid. After Zaid’s arrest, Sonu moved to Delhi and became a taxi driver before joining the gang.
The gang targeted only new model cars after conducting recces, and Mohsin, Shakir, Sunil, and Chaand were responsible for gathering information on the demand for specific car models.
It was discovered that the gang had been active for the past 10 years. Rinku had 36 cases registered against him, Hakeem had 32, Mohsin had 7, and Shakir had 13 in various police stations across Delhi-NCR.
During the operation, the police recovered three cars, including two Brezza and a Kia Seltos, along with a tab, jammer, and other electronic items. The accused were booked under IPC sections 379 (theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property). The police are currently searching for the absconding accused.
