The police at Lubowa Tuesday arrested two people suspected to be involved in the stealing of vehicle number plates.
In a statement dated 13th July, Luke Owoyesigyire the assistant police spokesperson said the two suspects identified as Natamba Brian and Katushabe Saul are behind the constant stealing of vehicle number plates in areas of Lubowa, Zzana, Bunamwaya, Katale, Bukwenda, Seguku and Nalumunye.
He said the two were arrested after several complaints raised by the area constituents related to their missing vehicle plates.
“The suspects identified as Natamba Brian and Katushabe Saul have been stealing plates in areas of Lubowa, Zzana, Bunamwaya, Katale, Bukwenda, Seguku and Nalumunye. The operation followed complaints to police from the affected communities,” Owoyesigyire said.
He revealed that after plucking off the car licence plates, the suspects would leave their telephone numbers written on those vehicles to help them solicit funds from the owners.
“After plucking off the car licence plates, the suspects would leave their mobile phone contacts on the vandalised car, which the victims were expected to call for details about the whereabouts of their motor vehicle plates,” the police spokesman revealed.
“When the victims call the suspects’ mobile phone number, the receiver tell them to send them money first before they reveal to them where they hid the licence plates,” he added.
He, however, indicated that the police was able to track down these suspects with the help of the new technology acquired to fight crime.
He said the suspects were arrested from areas of Seguku and Namasuba and upon interrogation, they led the police to where they hid all the licence plates.
“At least 46 different number plates were recovered. Verification of the owners of the licence plates is ongoing,” Owoyesigyire indicated.
“Our crime database show that the duo were arrested before on the similar offence of stealing from motor vehicles and remanded to prison. They started from where they stopped upon release from the prison.”
He further said the duo will be arraigned in courts of law again as soon as investigations are done.
The police spokesman, however, urged the general public, especially those who lost their licence plates to visit any police station to identify their licence plates.
