Five suspected car thieves arrested with forged UPDF identity card
The suspects at Mbale Police Station. PHOTO YAHUDU KITUNZI
What you need to know:
- The UPDF Spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire says the suspects will be dealt with accordingly.
- Police have recovered four of the 12 stolen vehicles, two master keys and a forged UPDF identity card in the names of one of the suspects.
Police in Mbale District have arrested five people accused of stealing and smuggling cars.
Mr Sowedi Manshur, the Elgon region police spokesperson, says the suspects, who had stolen the vehicles from different parts in eastern Uganda last month, were arrested during an operation in Moyo District.
“We have made a breakthrough in the alleged theft of vehicles and we have some suspects in custody,” Mr Manshur.
He said all the five suspects will be charged with aggravated robbery and impersonation after they were allegedly found with a forged Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) identity card.
Mr Manshur further noted that police have recovered four of the 12 stolen vehicles, two master keys and the forged UPDF identity card in the names of one of the suspects.
He revealed that among the recovered vehicles include Toyota UAV 985R which belongs to Mr Muhammedi Norman, Primo UAU 132A which belongs to Mr Steven Masinga, another Primo UAY 325A stolen from Hajji Dauda of Nakaloke and another car Reg No UAW 051C stolen Mr Julius Kalele.
He said some of the stolen vehicles had already crossed the border.
“We are in touch with Interpol to try and recover these vehicles, which these thugs claim they are already in DR Congo,” he said.
Mr Manhur said suspects were allegedly using a photocopy of a forged UPDF identity card reportedly owned by of them to pass through the check points after stealing vehicles.
The UPDF Spokesperson, Brig.Richard Karemire when contacted said the suspects will be dealt with accordingly.
The Mbale District Police Commander, Mr Mathias Turyasingura asked the car owners to install the Global Positioning Car Tracking System (GPS), to help in tracing for the stolen vehicles online.
