ISLAMABAD: The Anti-Car Lifting Cell (ACLC) of the Islamabad Police arrested 52 persons after busting 22 criminal gangs during 2017 and recovered 114 stolen vehicles as well as 23 motorbikes from them worth Rs 77.3 million, said Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sajid Kiani. Addressing a press conference, the SSP said that all efforts were being made to curb crime in the city and ensure protection to the lives and property of the citizens. He said that the ACLC recovered 114 vehicles and 23 motorbikes during 2017 and nabbed 124 car lifters whose challans were submitted in courts after completing investigation in 224 cases. He said that extra vigilance of the ACLC brought more success as it also recovered 10,080 grams of hashish, 106 wine bottles, 95 cans of beer and four 30-bore pistols. The vehicles worth Rs 77.3 million were recovered while five proclaimed offenders and three court absconders were also arrested. The SSP said the police handed over keys of 40 stolen vehicles and eight bikes to their actual owners and said that efforts were being made to trace the remaining owners of vehicles and bikes. On the occasion, senior officials of Islamabad police, notable citizens, owners of vehicles and media representatives were also present. He said that most of the recovered vehicles included Corolla, Mehran, Honda, Khyber, Suzuki pick-ups, Coure and Double Cabins. The SSP said that efforts of ACLC had brought great reduction in car lifting incidents. He said that several ACLC policemen got injured in police encounters. Kiani said that car and bike lifting incidents were at peak in 2014 as 766 vehicles and 442 motorbikes were lifted in that year. He said that accelerated efforts were being made to control the crime and ensure more recovery of stolen vehicles. Published in Daily Times, December 28th 2017.