Thieves stole a brand-new Hyundai Creta worth over Rs 20 lakh in under a minute from outside a residence in South Delhi’s Safdarjung Enclave on June 21, using what police suspect was a high-tech device commonly used by mechanics. The video of the heist was shared online by the vehicle’s owner.
The theft, which occurred at 4.50 am, was captured on CCTV and later shared online by Rishab Chauhan. His Instagram post, titled “Rs 20 lakh stolen in 60 seconds”, has garnered over three million views. The footage shows a car pulling up beside Chauhan’s parked Creta. A man is seen stepping out and breaking the driver-side window before driving away.
Moments later, the same car returns and another man, wearing a mask and holding a tablet-like device, quickly hacks into the Creta’s security system, unlocks it and drives off.
Watch the CCTV footage
“Hi, my Hyundai Creta got stolen in 60 seconds… Its security system has been hacked or leaked and can be bypassed in 60 seconds,” Chauhan wrote on social media, expressing disbelief over the incident occurring in such a heavily policed, upscale locality.
Chauhan also shared a screenshot of the FIR he filed with Delhi Police. Authorities have launched an investigation and confirmed that the district’s Anti-Auto Theft Squad is leading the probe.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Amit Goel told Indian Express that the suspects used a device typically employed by car mechanics to generate duplicate keys. “This device can create a duplicate key within seconds and is increasingly being misused by car theft gangs,” he said. Police are now reviewing footage and pursuing leads through known auto-theft networks in the city.