Dismantling cars at night...a new theft method that worries Algerians

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Algerians woke up to incidents of theft of a new kind, as thieves no longer content themselves with seizing entire cars, but rather tend to dismantle their parts at night and steal parts that can be sold separately.

Several cars were subjected to this type of theft, including cars in the Garedi neighborhood in the municipality of Kobba in the capital, Algiers, where thieves seized the doors and headlights of luxury cars, which are high-priced parts in the Algerian market.

Passers-by also took videos of the cars after they had been almost completely dismantled, amid astonishment at how these operations were carried out in a populated neighborhood, whose balconies overlooked the parking lots, making it possible to discover the dismantling process.

While some observers suggested that the perpetrators of these operations were specialists in dismantling cars quickly, others suggested that they were likely residents of the same neighborhood.

While these incidents raised demands from Algerians to intensify the installation of surveillance cameras in streets, neighborhoods and parking lots, with the aim of reducing thefts and documenting crimes, which helps track suspects and facilitate the arrest of perpetrators.

Security affairs specialist Abdul Samad Aidwai said that the theft of vehicles “is no longer limited to seizing them completely, but rather some gangs are moving towards dismantling them and stealing their parts, especially doors, lamps, mirrors, wheels and some electronic equipment, before transporting them and selling them separately.”

He, the owner of a company specializing in institutional security, also explained in a statement to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath that this type of crime benefits from the difficulty of discovering the dismantling process, especially when it takes place in isolated places or during the night hours, noting that some vehicles can be stripped of a number of their parts within a short time, before the parts are disposed of or resold through different channels.

Eidwai also believed that reducing this phenomenon requires strengthening field surveillance methods, most notably intensifying the installation of surveillance cameras in streets, neighborhoods, and parking lots, especially in areas that witness a large movement of vehicles or where frequent thefts are recorded. He added that surveillance cameras can help document the movements of suspicious people and vehicles, determine the timing and location of the crime, in addition to providing data that may benefit security interests in investigations and identifying those involved.

However, he stressed that the effectiveness of these methods is linked to the quality of the equipment, their installation locations, and their ability to work in various circumstances, in addition to the necessity of having clear mechanisms for preserving recordings and exploiting them when needed.

In addition, the specialist pointed out that the spread of surveillance cameras may face several obstacles, including the cost of acquiring, installing and maintaining equipment, in addition to the need to cover a large number of points, in addition to difficulties related to infrastructure and the provision of electricity and communications in some locations. On the other hand, he stressed that camera surveillance “cannot be a substitute for field security work,” but should be part of an integrated system that includes patrols, rapid reporting of thefts, tracking the path of stolen spare parts, and tightening control over places where they are sold.

He also added that the security services are always keen on this, citing the speed of action following thefts, especially those that are circulated on social media sites.