The city police is now advising the denizens to shell out "a few thousands" on anti-theft devices, which they say could go a long way in enhancing the safety of the vehicle.

Delhi Police has come out with advertisements in newspapers asking vehicle owners to install a GPS tracking system "in your vehicle for us to trace" it in the event of its theft or any other mishap.

It advises citizens to install devices like steering locks, dicky locks, additional door locks and ignition locks besides remote-controlled alarm, central locking system and engine immobiliser.

The city has already reported nearly 2,800 cases of vehicle thefts in the first four months of the year, a senior police official said, adding 2,244 vehicles were stolen from the capital till March.

"Anti-theft devices are just what you need to safeguard your vehicle. They cost a few thousands more but go a long way in enhancing the safety of the vehicle," it says.

"It is not that we are shirking responsibility. We believe prevention is better than cure. So we are advising people to take adequate precautions," the official said.

The city police's record of cracking auto-theft cases is also very low with sleuths being able to crack only 21.51 per cent of such cases.

Out of a total of 8039 vehicles stolen in the capital, police managed to recover 1,729.

According to National Crime Records Bureau, the capital is second only to Maharashtra with regard to the number of vehicle theft cases.

While Maharashtra reported 12,814 cases in 2006, Delhi came second with 9,402 cases.

Among the 91,100 vehicles stolen across the country in 2006, police managed to recover only 26,474, which accounted for 29.1 per cent of the total.