Lost your two-wheeler? You might be able to trace it on Facebook.
The city police are tapping social media to help retrieve stolen bikes that are often abandoned at Chennai Moffusil Bus Terminus (CMBT) and Central railway station.
Most often, stolen bikes are used by miscreants to commit crimes and later abandoned at bus terminii and railway stations.
These bikes do not just deny space to regular commuters who wish to park their vehicles, but also pose a serious security problem. Besides, some people abandon their bikes and register false police complaints in order to claim insurance.
To trace the owners of such vehicles, the Koyambedu police have launched a Facebook page called ‘Missing two-wheelers’. It now has 17 photos of bikes abandoned at CMBT’s parking lot.
“We will be posting more pictures,” said A.D. Mohanraj, assistant commissioner of police, Koyambedu.
There are three floors for parking on CMBT premises. A total of 200 bikes are abandoned here and another 120 near the Koyambedu police station.
“Our attempts to trace the owners with the help of the transport department have failed. So, we have decided to use social media,” said the officer.
The Facebook page can also be used by residents to post pictures of their lost bikes, along with details such as the vehicle’s registration number.
“We will contact the owner when the bike is found. The two-wheeler will be handed over after document verification,” said the officer.
The Koyambedu police are also planning to install flex boards, with registration numbers of abandoned vehicles, on CMBT premises and surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, the Government Railway Police (GRP) too are planning to use social media to trace abandoned vehicles at Chennai Central railway station.
“There are around 100 abandoned vehicles in the station’s parking lot. It has become hard to trace the owners,” said a senior police officer.
