The Anti Vehicles Lifting Staff, Model Town arrested 15 accused of five different gangs and recovered 18 cars, 56 motorcycles, two rickshaws, master keys and illegal weapons worth Rs 20 million from them. These views were expressed by Model Town Superintendent Police Atif Hayat in a media briefing on Tuesday. The SP added that Senior Superintendent Police Investigation Awais Ahmed Malik directed all officers to initiate steps for curbing the trend of car snatching and theft besides effecting recovery of the stolen vehicles. The SP formed a team under the supervision of Model Town Deputy Superintendent Police Salim Mukhtar Butt and other officials who had worked day and night and were successful in busting the gang. He said that the accused assembled together after contacting one another on phone at stole vehicles parked outside houses in streets with the help of master keys and also snatched cars from citizens on roads at gunpoint and later sold them at cheaper prices in tribal areas and other districts of Punjab. The arrested accused included ringleader Tariq Mahmood alias Amjad Khan. Ejaz, Adil Shahbaz Masih, Mujahid and Irfan are some of the vehicle lifters who have a history in this crime. The criminals have also confessed to several incidents in different police stations across the city. Efforts of further recovery are underway. SP Model Town also distributed recovered vehicles to their real owners. He also announced cash prizes and commendatory certificates for the police teams. Published in Daily Times, September 19th 2018.