10-year-old arrested in Karachi bike theft ring smuggling to Balochistan

Police in Pakistan's metropolitan city Karachi have arrested a 10-year-old boy and a criminal gang involved in a widespread bike theft operation that stretched across the city and into neighboring Balochistan.

The child, identified by police as a key player in the bike theft ring, was apprehended by officers in the Gulshan-e-Maymar area after surveillance footage linked him to multiple stolen vehicles.

Police say the boy had been trained by his grandfather to unlock bikes using a master key and manipulate their wiring to drive them to his grandfather.

According to the boy, he had been involved in the thefts for several months on his grandfather’s instructions, though he claimed he kept the activities secret from his father, a taxi driver.

Authorities also arrested the boy's grandfather, and several others involved in the network, recovering 14 stolen motorcycles.

The group allegedly smuggled stolen bikes to Balochistan, where they were sold or dismantled for parts.

In a separate operation, Surjani Police raided a house in Yousuf Goth, arresting Asif, a gang leader who operated with his family.

Police found 142 bike chassis and 75 tanks, evidence of a racket where stolen bikes were disassembled and sold as parts in local markets.

The gang was also reportedly smuggling bikes into Balochistan for resale at low prices, sometimes as little as $60 per bike.

Senior Superintendent of Police Tariq Elahi Mastoi noted that authorities were aware of how these gangs operated, smuggling bikes through informal routes, or "Kacha Rasta”.

In response, police are increasing patrols and establishing checkpoints to prevent further thefts.

According to police data, nearly 40,000 bikes are stolen annually in Karachi, and more than 38,000 have been reported stolen this year alone.

Authorities say these criminal networks are organized into four groups: the thieves who snatch or steal the bikes, mechanics who strip the bikes for parts, facilitators who hide the stolen bikes from law enforcement, and smugglers who transport the bikes across provincial borders.