Stolen, fake-plated vehicles raise security concerns

KARACHI: Stolen vehicles and those moving around with fake registration plates are emerging as a growing public safety and law and order concern in Karachi, according to official figures and police data.

The issue affects both residents whose vehicles are taken and law enforcement agencies trying to track crime. The case of Ali Hassan, a resident of Gizri, whose Mehran was stolen from outside his apartment a few days before Eid, illustrates this. For him, the theft was both a financial setback and a source of anxiety over the possibility that the car could be used in criminal activity. He reported the matter to police so the incident could be formally recorded.

Vehicles identified through police monitoring system

Official data shows thousands of vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, fall into the category of stolen vehicles or vehicles being used with fake number plates in the city. Many of them were recently detected through the Traffic Regulation and Citation System introduced by Sindh Police.

Under that system, around 1,600 vehicles were found to be operating with fake number plates, while nearly 200 stolen vehicles were identified as being used without number plates. These detections were limited to locations covered by monitoring cameras, indicating the overall scale across Karachi may be larger.

Theft and recovery figures

Data from the Citizens Police Liaison Committee showed that in January 2026, more than 3,000 motorcycles and 138 cars were reported stolen from different parts of Karachi. In February, the figures stood at 2,726 motorcycles and 143 cars.

The Sindh Police Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell is responsible for recovering stolen or snatched vehicles, but recovery numbers remain comparatively low. AVLC spokesperson Umair Tanoli said the cell recovered 82 cars and 164 motorcycles in January 2026. In February, recoveries were 83 cars and 226 motorcycles.

Crime and enforcement concerns

Specialists see a clear connection between stolen or fake-plated vehicles and criminal activity because such vehicles are difficult to trace and can be used in illegal acts. CPLC data for 2025 showed more than 17,000 mobile phone snatching incidents in Karachi, along with 21 kidnapping for ransom cases and 100 extortion cases.

Social development specialist Gul Muhammad Rais said such vehicles can be used in street crime, robberies, target killings and kidnappings because tracing them is extremely difficult.

"In Karachi, which has experienced periods of unrest in the past, these vehicles could also be exploited for terrorism and organized crime, highlighting the need for strong preventive measures," Rais said.

Besides security risks, these vehicles also complicate traffic management because vehicles without proper number plates cannot be fined. DIG Traffic Karachi Syed Pir Muhammad Shah said the traffic police would soon begin a campaign against such vehicles, adding that a crackdown would start within a week.