How Police trailed, shot and arrested number plate thieves in Mbarara

Police in Mbarara has started an operation against number plate theft. Three suspects have been arrested with hundreds of number plates they plucked off vehicles around Mbarara town.

Rwizi region police spokesperson Samson Kasasira, who confirmed the arrests, said there has been rampant theft of number plates in Mbarara as each suspect has over 100 number plates on his name.
"We have had rampant cases of number plate thefts and fortunately we have been able to arrest a number of suspects behind this crime. Among the three suspects we have, each suspect to his name he has over a hundred numbers that they have stolen," Mr Kasasira said.
He added that some of the number plates are stolen from parking lots that do not have security guards while some are stolen from homes at night.
"They work in rackets and the bigger team is outside there," Mr Kasasira said.
He said police has also obtained telephone lines the suspects have been using to collect money from the victims and appealed to members of the public have been conned in the same way to bring evidence to police.
"We only have three suspects and the lines they have been using to obtain money. We request that whoever that have been affected by these numbers 0706003109, 0755070971, 0755726492 and 0750917808 either in Mbarara or you have been a passerby going to Kabale and you have lost your number plate, or you have been coming from Kampala to tour areas of Mbarara and you have lost your number plate but paid money to get it back, you can help us in the prosecution of these suspects and also help recover other number plates," Mr Kasasira said.

The three suspects were identified as Nasasira Arnold (26), Rashid Sseruwada (18) and Kanyesigye Suwedi (18). They are all residents of Katete Mbarara municipality. Nasasira was shot in the heel when he attempted to grab a steering wheel of the police vehicle as they approached Katete Bridge. The bridge crossing river Rwizi links Lugazi to Katete ward in Mbarara Municipality.

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Mr Kasasira says that Nasasira wanted to swerve the police vehicle into river Rwizi so as to escape which forced police to shoot at him in the foot.
"We have one suspect who was shot in the foot as he tried to run away. We did this because we want to put our officers at risk. The police invest a lot of money to train these police officers and so we cannot let a simple thug take out five police officers just because he has to survive. As police we are telling anyone who is indulging in this act that if he tries to resist arrest we use all possible means to put you out. If it means putting you out of action we will do it. He tried to swerve off the car to River Rwizi at Katete Bridge after grabbing the steering of the car so in that process he tried to get out and was shot in his foot that is how he got shot," Mr Kasasira explained.

Mr Kasasira said the suspects had specific mobile money agents whom they withdraw from who helped police get suspects.
"Some of them we tracked their lines to the mobile agents where they withdraw money from. They have specific agents so that is what helped us and the help of the community who come to us. This crime should be stopped because it affects people because when you do not have a number plate as police we impound your car unless you have come and report to police that your number plate has been stolen and we give you a grace period,” Mr Kasasira said.
The suspects were charged with stealing from a vehicle and demanding property with menace. They will be taken to court to answer those charges.