New Delhi – Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital in East Delhi has become the epicenter of a disturbing crime wave, with hospital vehicle thefts reaching an alarming 90 cases between July and September. The government medical facility, despite having four entry gates, over 20 security guards, and CCTV cameras, has transformed into what victims describe as a hunting ground for organized vehicle theft gangs targeting doctors, staff, and vulnerable patients.
Scale of Hospital Vehicle Thefts Crisis
The hospital vehicle thefts at JPC Hospital have created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among the facility’s daily visitors. Police and hospital officials confirmed that at least 90 vehicles disappeared from within hospital premises during the three-month period, representing an average of one theft per day. The stolen vehicles primarily include two-wheelers such as scooters, motorcycles, and bicycles, with victims ranging from medical professionals to patients’ family members.
Security guards at the facility acknowledge their inability to prevent hospital vehicle thefts despite their presence at entry points. “We can’t check every person leaving the premises. We only man the gates,” admitted one security guard. “This isn’t one person’s doing. They have cutters and ignition tools. It looks like an organised gang,” he added, suggesting sophisticated criminal operations targeting the vulnerable hospital environment.
Impact on Medical Professionals
The hospital vehicle thefts have severely disrupted daily operations and staff morale at the medical facility. A junior resident doctor recounted losing his first scooter, purchased just months earlier, from near the OPD gate in August. “When I returned after my duty hours, it was gone. The guards said they hadn’t seen anything. It’s shocking that this can happen inside a hospital,” the doctor stated, expressing disbelief at the security failures.
Many medical professionals have stopped bringing vehicles to work entirely due to escalating hospital vehicle thefts. A senior resident doctor explained: “For the last three weeks, I’ve stopped riding my motorcycle to work. I take the metro and walk from the station. But it’s not sustainable, especially for emergency calls at night. Why should we be scared to park inside our own hospital?” This situation compromises healthcare delivery when doctors cannot reliably commute for emergency situations.
Patient Families Victimized by Hospital Vehicle Thefts
The hospital vehicle thefts have added devastating financial burdens to already struggling patients and their families. Rajesh Kumar, a Ghaziabad resident, lost his motorcycle while his injured son received treatment in July. “I parked my bike inside at night. By morning, it was gone. A box on the back seat had all my original and medical documents,” Kumar explained, highlighting how victims lose not just transportation but crucial personal documentation.
Md Shadab, a kidney patient from Seelampur, described losing his only means of transport to hospital vehicle thefts last month. “I went to a government hospital because I couldn’t afford private treatment. Instead, I lost my only means of transport. The police came, took my complaint, and disappeared,” Shadab said, expressing frustration with inadequate investigation and support for victims who chose government healthcare due to financial constraints.
Security Infrastructure Failures
Despite apparent security measures, hospital vehicle thefts continue unabated due to systemic failures in parking management and surveillance. The facility receives approximately 3,000 daily visitors—patients, attendants, and staff combined—but lacks clearly demarcated parking areas. Only one gate remains open to the public, creating chaotic vehicle clustering near entrances that makes effective surveillance nearly impossible.
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The parking area lacks formal organization, with motorcycles and scooters parked in tight clusters near walls or footpaths. “At night, it becomes easy for anyone to walk in, pick a bike, and leave. Guards can’t cover every corner,” explained one employee. Security personnel work 12-hour shifts and admit being understaffed for the volume of vehicles entering daily, creating vulnerabilities that organized gangs exploit.
Police Response to Hospital Vehicle Thefts
Officers at the nearby Shastri Park police station confirmed receiving multiple complaints and control room calls regarding hospital vehicle thefts from the facility. “We are investigating,” stated one officer, though specific progress details remain undisclosed. However, DCP (Northeast) Ashish Mishra declined to comment on the investigation, leaving victims uncertain about law enforcement priorities and progress in dismantling theft operations.
A guard room near the OPD now overflows with complaint slips and theft reports, creating a paper trail documenting the crisis. Yet despite this documentation, no arrests or recovered vehicles have been publicly reported, suggesting limited investigative success against what security guards believe are organized criminal networks.
Administrative Response and CCTV Access
Hospital administrators acknowledge the hospital vehicle thefts problem but cite limited authority to implement solutions. A senior hospital official revealed receiving at least 90 formal requests in two months from victims seeking CCTV footage access near gates. “Most want to identify suspects or track down where their bikes were taken from. We share footage only after written permission from the medical superintendent,” the official explained, highlighting bureaucratic obstacles hindering victim efforts to recover property.
Despite repeated incidents, no dedicated parking management system or additional security deployment has been introduced. The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr. Sushma Jain, did not respond to repeated contact attempts regarding measures to address hospital vehicle thefts.
Conclusion: Urgent Security Reform Needed
The hospital vehicle thefts crisis at JPC Hospital demands immediate comprehensive security overhaul including dedicated parking management, increased surveillance, coordinated police patrols, and streamlined victim support processes to restore safety and confidence among medical professionals, staff, and vulnerable patients seeking government healthcare services.
