Why criminals prefer stealing motorbikes to smartphones

KARACHI: Smartphones are generally expensive, and are also easy targets for criminals because carrying them is sim-pler, yet they are snatched less frequently than motorbikes in Karachi.

Even with frequent snap checking and patrolling by police, and their checkpoints at different locations, motorbikes are still snatched and stolen, and transported, raising the question: why do criminals take such risks for motorbikes over smartphones?

The Citizens-Police Liaison Committee’s (CPLC) 2024 data from January to June mentions 10,323 reported cases of phone snatching and theft. In contrast, 27,322 cases of motorcycle snatching and theft were reported during the same period, which is 165 per cent higher.

Given that phones are usually the easiest targets for snatching, it is surprising to see a lower number of such cases compared to motorbike thefts.

Despite the various reasons that might explain the decreasing trend in phone snatching, the high number of motor-bike thefts remains alarming. The CPLC record shows the motorbike recovery rate to be exceedingly low at 1,066, which is a mere four per cent.

According to the data, motorbike thieves seem to be carrying out their activities effectively and easily, while the re-covery efforts of the police appear to be much less effective.

But Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell (AVLC) chief SSP Arif Aslam Rao views the situation differently. There has been a de-crease in all areas — four-wheelers snatched or stolen, two-wheelers snatched or stolen. If we compare the first quarter (January-March) and the second quarter (April-June), there’s a 30 per cent decline in the second quar-ter.

He pointed out that if we look at the first quarter, it was moving upwards rapidly, but a 30 per cent decline in the sec-ond quarter, he stressed, is a major achievement in a city like Karachi.

Further explaining the decline, he said that in the first quarter six four-wheelers were snatched or stolen a day. How-ever, he added, in the second quarter it reduced to five a day.

Similarly, he continued, when we talk about two-wheelers, in the first quarter some 175 were snatched or stolen per day, but in the second quarter the daily average dropped to 125 per day.

As for criminals preferring motorbikes to smartphones, SSP Rao explained that phones have IMEI numbers that make them traceable, which acts as a deterrent for thefts. He said that these numbers enable law enforcement agencies to track and recover stolen phones more efficiently.

It is important to note here that IMEI numbers have helped solve cases not only within Karachi but also across differ-ent regions, including in Balochistan’s Quetta and even in cases where the suspects had fled to Afghanistan but were later traced and arrested upon their return.

Regarding the high number of motorbike snatching and theft incidents, the officer said that these cases indeed pre-sent distinct challenges, primarily due to three main reasons.

Firstly, motorbikes are often not registered under the current user’s name, making it difficult to trace owner-ship. This issue has led to cases where extensive efforts were made to locate the owner, sometimes involving numer-ous individuals, yet proving futile in many instances, he explained.

Secondly, motorbike parts have been a significant factor. Previously, stolen motorbikes were easily dismantled and sold for parts through scrap dealers. However, a crackdown on such activities has resulted in a notable 30 per cent decline.

He said that scrap dealers have become cautious and are less willing to engage in the trade of parts from stolen mo-torbikes due to increased scrutiny and fear of legal repercussions.

Thirdly, unlike Karachi, where there is some level of checking and monitoring, regions like Balochistan and interior areas often lack effective systems for verifying the legitimacy of motorbikes, creating a loophole for stolen motorbikes to be transported to those areas without facing the same level of scrutiny they would in Karachi.

According to the CPLC data, 38,644 cases of crime were reported during the first half of this year, with approximately 212 cases being reported on a daily basis.

The data shows that 999 four-wheelers were snatched and stolen but only 226 were recovered, 27,322 motorbikes were snatched and stolen but only 1,066 were recovered, and 10,323 phones were snatched but only 123 were recov-ered.

Nine kidnapping for ransom cases were registered, 58 extortion cases were reported, and 298 homicide cases oc-curred, while there was not a single case of bank robbery.

We have a mutual understanding with the CPLC, the AVLC chief said. Sometimes, if they don’t have certain cases, we add them, and vice versa. We’re working with a good understanding.

However, sometimes there are arguments between the two, he pointed out. Sometimes someone reports that their motorbike has been stolen, but it turns out it was in a parking lot or is found

elsewhere. In such cases the num-ber of reported thefts increases due to misunderstandings but the information is not updated later.