Police in Kampala have arrested a man who is suspected to be part of a racket involved in car number plate thefts.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, Racheal Kawala said Joshua Ainembabazi, 22, a resident of Mukono was netted after masterminding theft of number plates from cars on the nights of January 20, 21, 23 and 24 from 14 vehicles in Akright City, Kajjansi Town Council in Wakiso district.
“After stealing the number plates, he placed a piece of paper on each motor vehicle indicating number 0759219609 on which to send money ranging from shs100,000 to shs200,000 to direct the vehicle owners where the number plates are hidden upon payment of the said money,” SP Kawala told the Nile Post on Monday.
She said some of the victims later reported the matter to police, prompting investigations into the theft.
"Police tracked the number given, and the suspect was arrested on Sunday, January, 25 from Ssonde in Mukono district,”Kawala said.
According to police, the suspect led officers to places where he had hidden several number plates and a note book where papers on which the displayed telephone number are plucked .
“The operation is still ongoing to recover more stolen number plates.”
This kind of theft has been on for several years and mostly targets cars parked at night in residential neighbourhoods and in parking lots.
Police has on several occasions carried out operations and busted the gangs involved in this crime.
However, these thefts of number plates thrive because victims don’t report the matter to police but accept the demands and pay the said amount to the criminals.
Police however discourage this habit.
“We want to urge members of the public not give money to such criminal elements always report such cases to police for proper management,” Kawala advised.
