On January 15, 2026, Chandigarh Police uncovered a big vehicle theft racket and arrested a pair of 17- and 19-year-old boys and found 15 stolen vehicles and bicycles at their hideout. Its discovery was as a result of a regular patrol in Sector 52, in which some suspicious activity increased the observation of a patrol, which caused a chase and a seizure operation, which resulted in the discovery of fragments of dismantled vehicles worth lakhs. The presence of the youth in the organized crimes is evident in this operation in the increased level of youth participation in the city pressures.
The Arrest and Raid Details
The Crime Branch division, led by Inspector Ravinder Kumar, on a tip, set a trap in Sukhna Lake after the vehicle numbers of the wealthy sedan cars vanished in the parking lot. The pair were arrested after being questioned. The residents of the village of Mauli Jagran attempted to escape on a stolen scooter and bumped into a barrier. They could trace the vehicle on the basis of the chassis number of the vehicle to their owners in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula. The police could capture 15 vehicles, eight cars, such as the Hyundai Creta model and the Honda City model and seven bikes, such asthe Pulsar and the Yamaha.
Other tools were also found in the rubbish, such as jigsaws, fake plates, and spray paints, indicating that there was a professional setup in a rented godown in the village of Kishangarh. The adolescents admitted to stealing 25 within six months in Himachal, where they were selling the ripped parts in the grey markets and complete cars to their affiliates in Bihar. In shopping malls, hospitals and residential estates, cars were being stolen and sold at 2-5 lakh each upon modification.
Teen Gang’s Modus Operandi
The former, recorded dropouts who had petty crimes against their names, would hit unlocked cars at night with the assistance of master keys purchased online and the jamming devices. A couple of hours would see them strip away such valuable components as engines and alloys to avoid being tracked by repainting the chassis. Their business was motivated by social media videos, and one of the teens was bragging to other individuals that he was earning money very easily. The lifestyles gained through the profits earned included clothes with glamour name and partying, among others, and were attractive to school dropouts who are also not willing to get a job.
The police statistics also show that vehicle theft has increased 30 per cent in the tricity last year and also relates to inter-state gangs. These adolescents were providing larger syndicates therefore, justifying quick fencing.
Police Response and Charges
The case falls under Section 379, 411, 420 of IPC and IT Act stationed at Sector 36. People suspected of colluding are interrogated and sketches are distributed. Conflict resolution techniques: SP (Crime) Ashwani Garg has praised the use of community alert strategies, CCTV and WhatsApp groups and advocated anti-theft locks and GPS.
Forensic teams lifted the prints of the godown in order to help in following up. The owners got back their vehicles after confirmation, and the majority are grateful about immediate action.
Huge Amendments to How to Be Safe.
This bust interferes with a supply chain used to facilitate illegal racing and smuggling. In the ghettos, the youngsters require guidance, talent training and that of the truants. The level of crime is low, and this is justifiedinn Chandigarh,but teen gangs are one of the instruments of socioeconomic panic-unemployment; the fact that the gangs are almost drugs.
This will be done through awareness campaigns conducted by the police in the form of naka bands. The big thing of prevention: payments to victims by the insurers. And these rings are early perceived by vigilance as the tricity increases.
