The smart surveillance system in Karachi has not delivered the expected results in controlling vehicle theft and snatching cases. Despite heavy investment, crime trends remain a concern.
The Sindh Police launched the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) in August 2023. The system was introduced to reduce rising vehicle-related crimes in Karachi and other parts of Sindh.
The project cost more than Rs. 1.4 billion. It included 40 advanced cameras installed at key entry and exit points. Out of these, 18 locations were placed in Karachi.
These cameras were designed to detect number plates and identify faces. All footage was connected to a central command system at the Central Police Office.
However, official data shows limited improvement in overall crime control. In several cases, vehicle snatching increased after the system became active in Karachi.
Before the project, Karachi recorded 2,042 car theft cases and 219 car snatching incidents in one year. Motorcycle theft stood at 53,357 cases, while motorcycle snatching reached 6,014 cases.
After the system was installed, mixed trends were observed. Car theft declined, but car snatching increased. Motorcycle snatching also showed a rising pattern.
In 2024, car theft dropped to 1,702 cases in Karachi. However, car snatching increased to 283 cases. Motorcycle theft also decreased, but motorcycle snatching rose to 8,204 cases.
The 2025 figures showed further mixed results. Car theft increased again to 1,859 cases. Car snatching also rose to 309 cases in Karachi.
Motorcycle theft continued to decline to 38,513 cases. However, motorcycle snatching remained high at 6,419 cases.
Recovery rates of stolen vehicles also worsened after the introduction of the S4 system. This has raised questions about the system’s overall effectiveness in Karachi.
Before the project, recovery performance was stronger. After implementation, both car and motorcycle recoveries dropped significantly over the following years.
The Anti-Vehicle Lifting Cell recovered 834 cars in 2023. This number fell to 708 in 2024 and further dropped to 618 in 2025.
Motorcycle recoveries followed the same downward trend. Police recovered 4,715 motorcycles in 2023. This number dropped to 2,598 in 2024 and further to 1,631 in 2025.
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Officials acknowledge that improvements are still needed in system coverage and efficiency. However, current data suggests that Karachi continues to face serious vehicle crime challenges despite advanced surveillance infrastructure.
