2 auto lifters held in south Delhi

Two auto lifters, who allegedly used mobile signal jammers to prevent from getting tracked while stealing luxury cars, have been arrested, the police said today.

Following a tip-off, Subodh Yadav (37) and Vipin Kumar (42) were arrested on December 11 from south Delhi's Vasant Gaon, they said.

Six luxury stolen cars along with advance sophisticated tools, a software reader to read and replicate ignition and locking software and tools to bypass a car's security systems were seized, the police said.

On December 11, the police team laid a trap to nab the duo but Kumar and Yadav, who had reached the spot to strike a deal for selling the stolen car, tried to escape sensing police presence, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Romil Baaniya said.
 

However, the duo failed as they were overpowered by police personnel, he said.

The duo used mobile phone signal jammer while stealing or dealing with stolen cars as a cloak from electronic surveillance, the DCP said.

During interrogation, it was revealed the accused have developed a vast network of engine and chassis number punchers, operating in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, he said.

The members of this syndicate used to purchase damaged vehicles from insurance companies. They would then punch the engine and chassis numbers of the damaged vehicles to stolen vehicles and sell the latter to used car buyers, he said.

The cartel used advance security software to disable ignition and security system and bypass the engine control module (ECM) of vehicle and transfer the data into their programming machine, Baaniya said.

Using this data, they would prepare duplicate keys to steal the cars, he said.

The cartel used mobile phone signal jammers while committing thefts or dealing in stolen cars to dodge customers as well as law enforcement agencies, the DCP said.

The jammer would also prevent persons from giving information to police from the scene of crime.

Yadav was also planning to establish a cab service in Agra.