At around 2.40 am on May 6, the police and sister security agencies in Mukono responded to an attempted aggravated robbery at Stabex Petrol Station, along Katosi road, Nakisunga Sub-county, in Mukono district.
The police and sister security agencies in Mukono, responded to an incident of attempted aggravated robbery at Stabex Petrol Station, along Katosi road, Nakisunga Sub-county, in Mukono district, on May 6, at around 2.40 am.
According to Fred Enanga the police spokesperson, facts gathered reveal that a group of thugs armed with hammers, iron bars and machetes attacked the petrol station and beat up the security guards and pump attendants.
Enanga said the robbers broke into the office to access the safe but failed to break it instead they destroyed the camera system and carried away the DVR, CPU and Monitor.
“They also robbed a phone and a rifle from the guard, which they abandoned at a distance of about 300 metres. The gun loaded with two live ammunitions, CPU, and monitor were recovered.”
Enanga however, mentioned that evidence showed the fuel station was not observing the security guidelines issued to them. As a result, he said the operators were told to cease operations until their security loopholes are managed.
“The attack still indicates that selected proprietors, station manager, staff and private guards are not observing the security guidelines issued to them, like security guards being on the look-out for persons walking towards them, sufficient manpower at night, regular inspection, use of alarm bells and intruder alarms.”
“Where security is not sufficient enough they were advised to close the fuel station during night,” Enanga added.
This, however, comes at a time when the police last week called on all fuel stations to tighten up their security agencies more so during the night hours saying that is when most attacks happen.
The police tipped that station robber always first disguise as clients branching to refuel their vehicles, they then go on to round up the private security guards and other staff on the night shift, before robbing them.
They noted that at times these robbers also carry out direct attacks on workers at these fuel stations deep in the night, especially between 1-4 am, while armed with weapons.
“For instance, on the 28.04. 2022, at around 1am, Total Fuel Station, Semuto Branch, in Nakaseke District, was raided by 5 suspects armed with guns and iron bars. They rounded up all the guards and staff and tied them up. And then broke the door to the offices, where they robbed all the money in the safe,” Enanga said last week.
He added that they also stole goods and commodities from the supermarket which they boldly loaded into a waiting motor vehicle.
