Latest news with #Activas
News18
17-07-2025
- News18
Man Turns Thief To Feed 8 Kids, One Master Key Does It All
Last Updated: Why Activas? Simple. They're everywhere, they start without fuss, and Ulla had a key that could crack them open faster than you can say "kickstart." If you walked past the Devaraja Police Station in Mysuru this week and thought, 'Hey, is this a new Honda Activa showroom?" you'd be forgiven. Rows of shiny scooters, all lined up neatly, looked ready for buyers. Except, these weren't up for sale. They were evidence. Twenty-eight two-wheelers, mostly Honda Activas, were recovered by the Mysuru police in one of the city's more curious theft crackdowns. Meet the Man Behind the Handlebar The credit or rather, the blame goes to one Azmath Ulla, a native of Chamarajanagar. A solo operator with a flair for stealth and a rather large family to feed. Ulla is accused of stealing 24 bikes within Mysuru city limits alone. His preferred target? The ever-popular Honda Activa. His weapon of choice? A master key, tailored for just this one model. Why Activas? Simple. They're everywhere, they start without fuss, and Ulla had a key that could crack them open faster than you can say 'kickstart." Turns out, stealing scooters was his version of moonlighting for a better life. If that sounds almost cinematic, well, the cops weren't buying the script. They trailed his movements, pieced together complaints across the city, and tracked down the missing bikes one by one. Thief Had a Master Key. Police Had a Master Plan. In the end, the master key met its match in a master plan. Mysuru police not only arrested Ulla but also reunited several rightful owners with their stolen rides, 24 bikes worth ₹12.8 lakh in total. So, next time you're at a police station and see a line of Activas, don't assume they're for test drives. Sometimes, they're just stolen dreams, parked temporarily. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
1 vehicle stolen daily; recovery is only 26.6% in Panchkula
1 2 Panchkula: Approximately one motor vehicle is stolen daily on an average in Panchkula. What is worse is that of the total stolen vehicles, only about 26.64% of them were recovered, according to the vehicle lifting and recovery data of the last five years. According to the latest data provided by Panchkula Police, a total of 1,520 vehicle thefts were reported from 2021 through April 2025 (0.96 vehicles per day), with 405 vehicles recovered, yielding an overall recovery rate of 26.64%. In 2021, 266 vehicles were reported stolen. This number surged to 409 in 2022 — the highest in the five-year period. Although thefts slightly dropped to 357 in 2023 and 346 in 2024, the first four months of 2025 have already recorded 142 cases, putting the year on track to exceed 420 thefts if the trend continues — a potential five-year high. Year-by-year analysis reveals a decline in recovery efficiency in recent years. While the local police managed to recover 30.45% of stolen vehicles in 2021, and slightly more in 2022 (30.56%), the following years show a steady decline. The recovery rate dropped to 26.34% in 2023, then sharply down to 20.52% in 2024. Early 2025 figures show a slight improvement at 23.94%, but still far below the early years. The data points to a need for enhanced vehicle tracking, faster response protocols, and public awareness campaigns to improve recovery outcomes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Haven't Switched Car Insurance in 2024, You're Losing Money AutoTrends Learn More Undo Nirmal Singh, inspector crime branch, Panchkula Police, told TOI that earlier, gangs used to operate, so at one point of arrest, even 40 to 50 vehicles used to get recovered. Now, vehicle lifting has shifted to individuals, who are mostly doing it for drugs, making the recovery of vehicles difficult. Even if a thief is caught, two to three bikes get recovered. Mostly, such thieves take out the body parts and sell them to scrap dealers. The police last week directed all scrap dealers not to buy stolen items, else action will be taken against them. The police have also appealed to people to check all documents while buying a second-hand vehicle to ensure it is not a stolen one. The police said mostly two-wheelers, particularly Activas, are stolen in Panchkula. Most such thefts take place at Yavnika Garden, Sector 5. It has three gates and three open parking lots, making it an easy spot for vehicle lifters. The civil hospital area is another vulnerable area. Many people who park outside the hospital are at more risk. Other open unmanned parking lots are also easy targets for vehicle lifters. The hot spots for vehicle lifting are Yavnika Garden, Sector 5, civil hospital, Sector 6, and other open unmanned parking lots | Year | Thefts | Recoveries | I 2025 (up to Apr 30) | 142 | 34 | | 2024 | 346 | 71 | | 2023 | 357 | 94 | | 2022 | 409 | 125 | | 2021 | 266 | 81 | Total: 1520; 405
