Software-Savvy, Tech-Friendly Thieves Armed with latest technology and tools, car thieves find a way in

Explaining their modus operandi, a senior officer of the Delhi Police Crime Branch said the gangs no longer use conventional methods to break into vehicles.

Cars parked in a no-parking area. Praveen Khanna

Auto-lifter gangs in the capital have turned tech-savvy, with many of them using Chinese software and other equipment to break into vehicles, said police. One such software, the Engine Control Module (ECM) code breaker, is available online and costs Rs 1 lakh.

Police estimate that 45 interstate auto-lifter gangs are currently operating in the capital. Explaining their modus operandi, a senior officer of the Delhi Police Crime Branch said the gangs no longer use conventional methods to break into vehicles.

“Earlier, they would procure duplicate keys of the car from either the parking attendant or an employee of a petrol pump. Now they are much more sophisticated. The gangs comprise four to five people, including a professional driver, a mechanic, and someone well-versed in technology. They usually operate in the early hours of the day,” he added.

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“Once they identify their target, they break the side window of the vehicle. The steering is deactivated by the mechanic. Then they connect the car’s ECM to the Chinese software and re-set the password,” said a police officer.
To check if the GPS is still working, police said the gang first leaves the vehicle in an isolated area for 48 to 72 hours.

If the car has a GPS system, police would be able to trace the car once the owner files a complaint. If no one comes looking for the car after 72 hours, the gang takes the vehicles and delivers it to the client. “They can even break the gear lock using certain tools,” added the officer.

While some gangs steal vehicles and sell them to scrap dealers, the rest steal cars only after getting an order from the ‘receiver of stolen vehicles’. Sources also said auto-lifting is no longer a petty crime as the turnover from the sale of stolen cars is in crores.

Mahender Singh Manral

Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More

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