An anti-vehicle theft campaign,initiated three months back by the Panjab University in collaboration with the Chandigarh Police,has proved to be useful for students. Under the campaign,on an average ten vehicles,left unlocked,are taken away by the police and parked at Sector-11 Police Station and Panjab University police post. This is done as a precautionary measure to ensure that vehicles are not stolen. After verification and submission of identity proof,the owners can recover their vehicles from the police. A S Ahluwalia,Dean Students Welfare (DSW) said,Vehicles left unlocked invite theft. Usually students use their cellphones while driving and forget to lock their vehicles. We have also informed hostel authorities and student leaders to ensure that no unattended or vehicle unregistered with the hostel is in the parking of the hostel. Otherwise stringent action will be taken against the defaulters. On the other hand,Gurmukh Singh,SHO,Sector-11 police station,said the exercise had proved to be a success as the number of cases of theft of vehicles on campus had come down considerably. Before the campaign was launched,on an average four to five vehicles were stolen a month. Now,the number has come down to one per month. It's a preventive action for the benefit of students. Because of their carelessness,their vehicles can be even be misused, said the SHO. He added that miscreants break window panes of cars and steal anything they could lay their hands on. Thus,realising the gravity of the situation the campaign was launched. Two police personnel in civilian clothes have also been deputed at the parking area. Besides,security guards keep a constant check on vehicles left unlocked or with keys. As a result of the campaign,vehicle theft cases have reduced significantly, said P K Dhawan,Chief Security Officer. Gurmukh Singh said,We do not take any legal action by impounding the vehicles. We advise students not to leave their valuables unattended in cars. The efforts of the authorities are well appreciated by students. Sukhjit Singh,a resident of hostel no 7 said,A few days ago,my motorcycle was taken away by the police when I left the key with it,but I am satisfied with the campaign. Deepak Kumar Sehrawat,a day scholar said,After taking an exam,when I came out of the centre I was shocked to find my motorcycle missing from the parking area. I thought it was stolen,but to my relief I was told that it was taken by the police to ensure that it was not stolen.
