Gated residential societies, often marketed for their top-tier security, are increasingly becoming convenient parking lots for stolen vehicles across the National Capital Region (NCR). This alarming trend has pushed police in Noida and Ghaziabad to initiate a major crackdown targeting cars and two-wheelers left abandoned in society basements for weeks or even months.
The Tipping Point: A Stolen Honda Jazz in Ghaziabad
The issue came into sharp focus last month at T&T Homes in Sidharth Vihar, Ghaziabad. Residents noticed a Honda Jazz parked without a valid society sticker. When guards and occupants tried to find the owner, they traced it to a Delhi resident named Vijay, who disclosed that the car had been stolen from a parking lot in the capital.
CCTV footage later revealed a group of unidentified men driving the car into the society, parking it in an isolated spot, changing clothes inside a lift, and then calmly walking out. This was not an isolated incident, police confirmed.
Why Gated Societies Are Easy Targets
Investigations point to systemic security lapses that criminals are exploiting. A senior police officer explained that with hundreds of flats and constant movement, it is easy to sneak in a stolen vehicle, put a fake society sticker on it, and leave it parked indefinitely.
Several key factors contribute to this problem:
- Outdated Parking Records: Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) often fail to update vehicle registrations when ownership changes. Rajiv Mumar, president of an Indirapuram RWA, admitted that in towers with over 1,000 flats, it's practically impossible to know which vehicle belongs to whom.
- Misuse of Digital Systems: While apps like MyGate and NoBrokerHood manage visitor entry, many societies neglect to update vehicle databases or cancel old parking stickers. Bhupendra Nath, an AOA member at SG Grand in Raj Nagar Extension, noted that a car sold months ago might still have access because its old sticker was never deactivated.
- Patchy Tenant Verification: Inconsistent checks on tenants make it difficult to establish a clear link between residents and the vehicles they use.
The security threat is real and documented. In one case, burglars used a car parked in a society basement for over three months as a getaway vehicle after a robbery.
Police Response: A Multi-Pronged Verification Drive
Authorities in Noida and Ghaziabad are now stepping up their response. According to Noida ADCP Shavya Goyal, police stations have been instructed to identify and list all abandoned vehicles in their jurisdictions.
Special teams comprising beat constables, traffic police, and RWA representatives will conduct door-to-door inspections. They will log details of all suspicious vehicles and cross-check them against transport and crime databases. Any vehicle with unverifiable ownership will be seized immediately.
The drive will be rolled out in phases, starting with major societies in central Noida and expanding to Greater Noida West, industrial zones, and the Yamuna Expressway area. Police will also issue public advisories urging residents to report suspicious or abandoned vehicles.
Resident and RWA Cooperation is Key
Police emphasize that the campaign's success hinges on cooperation from residents and RWAs. "Societies must take responsibility for internal verification. The aim is not to penalise anyone but to make communities safer," a senior official stated.
Some societies have already tightened protocols. Surojit Dasgupta, general secretary of Exotica Fresco AOA, said their society now requires advance notice for guest vehicles. Night guards conduct rounds to spot cars without stickers and cross-check them with guest entries, reporting any discrepancy.
Residents are also advised not to leave their cars idle for long periods, as they can become security risks. If a vehicle will be unused, owners should inform the RWA or police.
Mixed Reactions from Residents
While most residents welcome the crackdown, some caution against overzealous action. Vineet Mehra, a Noida Extension resident, supported the move, citing at least four vehicles in his society's basement that haven't moved in over a year, some with flat tyres and missing plates.
However, Vipul Malik of Paras Tierra warned that some residents travel for months, leaving their cars to gather dust, which should not be automatically deemed suspicious.
Progress reports on the drive will be sent to the commissioner's office weekly, with ACP-rank officers overseeing operations. Police have also proposed integrating RWA records with a central digital portal to flag vehicles with unclear ownership or registration.
"A car that has not moved in months could be a missing piece in a criminal network. Through this verification drive, we want to ensure that no corner of Noida or Ghaziabad becomes a hiding place for stolen vehicles," an official concluded.
