… Arrested Suspects Specialized In Changing Vehicle Chassis, Engine Numbers, Deactivating Trackers
Juliana Francis
The Delta State Police Command in different operations has recorded amazing feats, including bursting a car-snatching syndicate, other gangs and recovered 12 stolen cars.
The Police spokesman, a Superintendent of Police, Bright Edafe, said that on the 11th of April, at about 6:32 pm following information from a man of Abuja Road DSC Township Oruwhorun that his Toyota Corolla Saloon Car was stolen from where it was parked in Oruwhorun and that the said car was sighted along Eku/Warri road by Oha Junction in Okpe Local Government Area.
Sequel to the tip-off, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Orerokpe, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Paul Oboware, swiftly mobilised patrol teams alongside members of Oha community vigilantes and gave the suspects a hot chase to the Army checkpoint at Orerokpe Junction and double-crossed the vehicle.
Edafe said: “Consequently, one Dickson Omage, 47, was arrested. The vehicle was recovered, and a master key which the suspects used to carry out his nefarious activities was also recovered.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his gang are notorious for stealing cars from where parked both in the daytime and at night. Further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other suspects, Samson Ekwunwa, 40 and Kanebi Michael, 39 in Benin City on the 19th of April.
Edafe explained that the two suspects specialised in removing old chassis numbers and engine numbers and replacing them with new ones before putting the vehicles for sale and equally demobilizing vehicles with car trackers.
He said that a total 12 of suspected stolen vehicles were recovered from Benin City and Warri respectively with registration and chassis numbers as follows;
TOYOTA COROLLA – REG.NO: SAG 625 AT CHASIS NO: 2T1BR32E040135167, TOYOTA COROLLA – REG.NO: KMR 965 AE CHASIS NO: 2T1BR32F030700145, TOYOTA COROLLA – REG.NO KMR 963 AR CHASIS NO: JTDBR32FX02011119, MERCEDES BENZ REG.NO: NIL CHASIS NO: WDDGF810X19F271625, TOYOTA CAMRY V6 REG.NO: ABJ 681 HB CHASIS NO: 4T1BF30K44U068578, LEXUS 350 RX -REG NO: WWW 130 TA CHASIS NO: 2T2GK311067C010488, TOYOTA CAMRY (SPIDER) REG.NO: WWW 913 TJ X CHASIS NO: 4T1BE46K37U058354, TOYOTA COROLLA- REG.NO; FKJ 560 GJ X CHASIS NO: INXB932E25Z354431, TOYOTA COROLLA- REG.NO:FKJ 744 CZ CHASIS NO:2T18R32540225038, TOYOTA COROLLA- REG.NO: NIL CHASIS NO: INXBR32E90Z096084, TOYOTA CAMRY V6-RRG.NO EHR 48 AE CHASIS NO: 4T1BF30K46U11562, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER REG.NO: BRS 99 AJ CHASIS NO: JTEGB650108007.
The Police image manager said that the investigation was still ongoing and efforts to arrest other fleeing members of the gang were on top gear.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the Control Room on 08036684974, or by visiting the nearest police station. He further added that by working together, the police and the public can create a safer environment for the entire populace.
