Police arrest 23 suspected robbers
Aug 31, 2009
The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) is holding 23 suspects in connection to a series of aggravated robberies and thefts.
The Rapid Response Unit (RRU) is holding 23 suspects in connection to a series of aggravated robberies and thefts.
The group includes suspected car robbers who are believed to deal in high value motor vehicles which they steal from owners using duplicated keys.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba on Friday said the suspects are from the districts of Ibanda, Mbarara, Kabaale, Kampala, Kisoro and Bushenyi.
She disclosed that they targeted four-wheel drive vehicles like Land Cruisers, Toyota Prados and cars like Coronas and Corollas.
Nabakooba added that the suspects steal the vehicles from washing bays, garages and petrol stations. She also said some of the stolen cars were those hired out for self-drive.
She said: “There is a big racket of thugs that operate at washing bays and mechanics in various garages that duplicate keys left to them and later connive with others to follow the owners and steal the vehicles,†she said.
Among the cars recovered was that belonging to the Moroto County MP, Benson Obua Ogwal. The car, which was stolen at a supermarket in Kanyanya, was later intercepted in Arua as it was being driven towards the DR Congo with forged number plates. One suspect, Musa Kalule, 30, was being held over the theft.
Nabakooba said the stolen cars were being sneaked out of the country to Southern Sudan and DR Congo after changing their appearance in garages in Ndeeba, Katwe, Kalerwe, Wandegeya and Kisekka market and others were dismantled and the spare parts sold out.
The Police also recovered seven rifles with 223 bullets, military uniforms and over 30 cars out of the 45 that were reported missing last month.
Five of the vehicles were found in the DR Congo.
Nabakooba explained that the Police had set up a special squad to track down the suspects and all district Police commanders had been instructed to deploy heavily at exit points.