The police in Ondo State have apprehended four suspected members of a notorious inter-state car-snatching syndicate.
Three stolen vehicles were recovered th in a major operation executed by its Tactical Intelligence Squad (TIS).
The success recorded was sequel to the
arrest and confession of the alleged ringleader, 32-year-old Afolabi Emmanuel, who reportedly stole a 2016 model Toyota Camry from the residence of one Amokun Victor in Oka-Akoko and disposed of it through an accomplice in Ogori-Magongo, Kogi State.
While parading the suspects in Akure, the Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed that the stolen Camry, with a market value of N12 million, was sold for a paltry N700,000.
According to him, the suspect confessed to scaling the fence of the victim’s compound, breaking into the apartment, carting away valuables and eventually driving off with the vehicle.
He added that further investigations, led to the recovery of two more vehicles, including a Toyota Sienna worth N6 million, which had been sold for N4 million.
He noted that the gang was responsible for a string of vehicle thefts across the state.
CP Afolabi revealed that the ringleader is based in Lagos but frequently visited Akungba-Akoko, where his father resides. It was during these visits that he allegedly identified potential targets before launching the theft operations.
“These suspects have been a menace, instilling fear in residents and dispossessing them of their hard-earned belongings. Their arrest is a significant blow to the network of criminals operating across state lines,” the police commissioner stated.
He urged vehicle owners to take precautions by installing anti-theft devices such as pedal locks and trackers.
