In a brazen incident highlighting security lapses, a ready-mix cement (RMC) truck, which had been seized by the Pune city traffic police for a violation, was stolen right from under police custody. The Swargate police have been conducting a search for the missing vehicle for the last two days.
The Incident and Theft Details
The RMC truck was originally impounded after it was found plying in a restricted zone within the city where the movement of heavy vehicles is banned. The traffic police department had registered an FIR at the Swargate police station for traffic rule violations and an attempt to commit culpable homicide. After seizing the vehicle, the police parked it on the road near Panchami Hotel Chowk on the Pune-Satara Road.
Despite taking precautionary measures, including placing wheel jammers on the truck's tyres to immobilize it, the theft occurred during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Senior inspector Yashwant Nikam of the Swargate police stated, "We registered a case of theft against unknown person(s). We suspect that the person who stole the truck used a duplicate key."
Police Investigation and Past Precedents
Inspector Nikam confirmed that teams are actively trying to locate the truck. "Our team visited the owner's place and parking area, but it was not there," he added. This embarrassing episode is, unfortunately, not an isolated one for Pune police.
Nearly two years ago, the traffic police had seized a car from Koregaon Park after its driver was caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The police applied jammers and left the spot, only to find the car gone the next day. In 2023, the Yerawada police faced a similar situation when a private luxury bus they had seized for traffic violations was taken away by its owner without any intimation, leading to another theft complaint.
Broader Context of Traffic Enforcement
These seizures are part of the Pune city traffic police's strategy to curb accidents involving heavy vehicles. The department routinely files FIRs against drivers and impounds vehicles found flouting norms to reduce fatal accidents on city roads. In a telling statistic, about 80 FIRs were registered against truck drivers in 2025 alone for violating various traffic rules.
The repeated incidents of stolen impounded vehicles raise serious questions about the security protocols for seized vehicles parked in public spaces. As the search for the RMC truck continues, the police are likely to revisit their custody procedures to prevent such audacious thefts in the future.
