PIC: Car number plate thieves at Rwizi police headquaters in Mbarara. (Credit: Adolf Ayokera)

By Adolf Ayoreka

CRIME

 MBARARA - Following the rampant theft of car number plates in the western region, police, together with flying squad mounted an operation to arrest three suspects claimed to have terrorised car owners in areas of Mbarara region.

The accused have been identified as Anold Asasira from Kashenshero in Mitoma district, Rashid Sserwada from Kakoba Mbarara municipality and Shauda Kanyesigye from Katete ward in Nyamitanga division Mbarara municipality.

According to the Rwizi regional police spokesperson, Samson Kasisira, there is on going public outcry about the rate at which car number plates are being plucked off  from people’s  cars in the town.

Kasisira revealed that Asasira and his team operate in the districts of Mbarara, Isingiro, Kiruhura, Bushenyi and Ntungamo where they bully car owners into sending them money to get back their car number plates.

Kasasira added that the thieves demand between sh100,000 to sh300,000 depending on the financial muscle of the car owner.

It has been noted that these people have turned this act into a lucrative venture where after plucking off the number plates,  they write a small note with their telephone numbers ,informing the car owner  to get in touch with them if they want their number plates back and later instruct the owner not to involve police.

 Rwizi police spokesperson, Kasisira displaying the telephone numbers of the suspects (Credit: Adolf Ayoreka)

“Car number plate theft is one of the most reported cases in Mbarara. At least one case has to be reported every day,” said Kasisira.

Kasisira urged  the general public to decline offering money demanded by these criminals saying that this encourages them to continue with the business.

It was also revealed that after plucking off the number plate, they hide it with in the vicinity and after sending them money, they direct their victim where pick the number plate.

Shauda Kanyesigy,  one of the suspects told us that his role in this game has been helping his colleagues to write the notification instructing owners not to involve police.

“While the rest of the team went to steal the  number plates, I was tasked to write notifications, because Police disturbs us so much. Whoever would involve police, they  would not get their number plate.”

Kasisira said these are to be arraigned before court on charges of robbery and obtaining money with menace.