Officials announced on Tuesday that a four-member gang that was accused of robbing citizens through phony online taxi applications had been arrested in collaboration with the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA).
The incident on Jail Road, in which the suspects allegedly stole millions of rupees from a passenger who had booked a ride through a ride-hailing app, led to the arrests. The victim used the 15 Emergency Helpline to report the incident.
The PSCA claims that its virtual patrolling unit used AI-based tracking technology and citywide surveillance cameras to locate the suspects’ vehicles. The system mapped their complete route and shared real-time location updates with police teams. Police carried out an operation and apprehended all four suspects based on the information provided.
The suspects reportedly admitted during questioning that they used phony ride-hailing platforms to target multiple victims. More than 200 SIM cards, luxury goods, vehicles, firearms, and valuables that had been stolen were found in their possession.
According to the PSCA, the rapid identification and tracking of the gang was made possible by the incorporation of artificial intelligence into Lahore’s surveillance network. A spokesperson stated, “Real-time monitoring and AI analysis helped ensure that the suspects were intercepted before they could escape the city.”
Authorities have urged the public to only use verified and reputable ride-hailing services to reduce the risk of falling victim to similar scams.
The police said that they are still looking into whether the group is connected to other criminal networks in Punjab and elsewhere.
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