The Directorate of Crime Intelligence in coordination with police from Kyankwanzi and Greater Kampala have arrested 12 suspects who are believed part of an organised criminal gang that specialises in the theft of motor vehicles, from parking yards.

Police spokesman Fred Enanga says the suspected stolen vehicles and boda bodas were driven to various isolated parking yards, in KMP that included “Kitimba” in Kasangati, Mukono, and Wakiso, where they are sold cheaply by buyers and car dealers.

“Other vehicles such as canters and tippers were dismantled by the gang and sold inform of spares,” he said.

Enanga said so far, 12 suspects, who include 8 prime suspects, 2 buyers of stolen motor vehicles from Mukono and Kalerwe, and 2 car park owners and dealers from Mukono are arrested.

He said their arrest led to the successful recovery of 6 suspected stolen motor vehicle and 1 motor cycle.

Enanga explained that the Crime Intelligence Task Team started its operations in Kyankwanzi district, after 5 cases of theft of motor vehicles and two boda bodas were registered, from the sub-counties of Ntwetwe, Nkandwa, Kiryanongo and Byerima, in the months of November and December, 2022.

The stolen motor vehicles included; 3 canters under registration numbers; UBF 478H, UBF 744Y, and UAY 186T, 01 Sahara Nissan registration number UAL 201H and a Premio registration number UBE 524Q, while the two stolen Bajaj Boxer motor cycles were under registration numbers, UFP 344Q, and UFP 598H.

So far, Enanga said, 6 motorcycles have been recovered which include; a Premio UBE 524Q with a fake registration number UAY 738T, that belonged to Katumba Bosco and was recovered from Kiwala in Mukono district; a Sahara Nissan UAL 201H belonging to Ganyana Alex, was recovered from Wantoni in Mukono district, with fake registration number, UAE 011U.

A Canter Blue in color under registration, number UBF 478H, was dismantled at Kalerwe, Kawempe division, Canter Tipper registration number, UAY 186T, belonging to Kanoonya James, was recovered from Misago in Kyankwanzi district, a Premio registration number UAV 950V, was recovered from Kasangati (owner not yet identified), a Canter UAM 490M, was recovered from Kiwala in Mukono district (owner not yet identified), and a Bajaj registration number UBM 064Z was recovered from Bweyogerere in Wakiso district (owner not yet identified).

The vehicles can be viewed at Kyankwanzi and Wakiso Police Headquarters. All the engine, chassis numbers and recovered number plates have been submitted to URA for further verification and details of ownership.

“The recoveries and arrests demonstrate our resolve to disrupt and dismantle rackets behind the motor vehicle and motor cycle thefts. We thank all the security personnel who participated in the operation and all persons who volunteered information that led to the arrests and recoveries. Together we can fight crime and make our communities safe,” Enanga said.

“Because car theft is a serious crime that causes significant distress and upsets its owners, we urge drivers and owners to take simple basics of target hardening their parking places and car lock systems, to guard against such thefts,” he added.