Ishtiyaq, a notorious criminal with a long history of auto thefts, was apprehended by the Delhi Police after a well-executed operation that led to the recovery of six luxury cars valued at approximately Rs1.4 crore. The 40-year-old, originally from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, had been operating a high-level car theft ring for nearly two decades, specializing in luxury models such as the Toyota Fortuner and Hyundai Creta.
The police, led by Inspector Manish Chaudhary and under the supervision of ASI Dashrath, used advanced smart monitoring tools to track Ishtiyaq’s movements. Their investigation ultimately led them to Seemapuri, where Ishtiyaq was caught while driving a stolen Toyota Fortuner with a fake Uttar Pradesh number plate at around 10:45 PM.
Ishtiyaq’s arrest came after a series of meticulously planned heists. He and his associates used specialized tools, including lock-breaking cutters, screwdrivers, and dummy keys, to target luxury vehicles. Once stolen, the cars were often sold in Meerut and Ghaziabad, where Ishtiyaq had set up his base of operations.
Upon his arrest, police recovered six stolen vehicles from various locations, including Tilak Nagar, Vikaspuri, and Ghaziabad. Ishtiyaq’s confession led to the seizure of lock-breaking equipment and a mobile phone used for communication with his associates. He was found to have committed 95 criminal cases, including 80 related to auto theft and others involving the Arms Act and fraud.
Ishtiyaq’s criminal career began in 2003, when he started with small-time car burglaries, stealing music systems. Over the years, his operations escalated to high-value car thefts, eventually making him one of the most wanted criminals in Delhi. His capture has been hailed as a major success by the police, preventing further car thefts across the region.