‘I deal in stolen cars, but I don’t steal’
He was introduced to the business by a friend when he couldn’t meet the needs of his two wives and 14 children, he told newsmen at the police headquarters in Kaduna at the weekend. He has made ‘big fortunes’ since he joined the trade but the bubble bust when his partner who supplies to him […]
He was introduced to the business by a friend when he couldn’t meet the needs of his two wives and 14 children, he told newsmen at the police headquarters in Kaduna at the weekend.
He has made ‘big fortunes’ since he joined the trade but the bubble bust when his partner who supplies to him consignments of stolen cars was arrested by the detectives of the Kaduna state police command, weeks ago.
Mohammed says he deals in stolen cars, but that he doesn’t steal them. In recent time, there has been a dramatic increase in cases of car theft in Kaduna state, especially in the state capital.
“Yes I’m a dealer of stolen cars but I don’t steal. I have been doing the business for the past two years successfully but I’m not a car thief, let me correct you. I have two wives and 14 children,” Mohammed said.
“I usually buy from my friend. I was arrested when he called me that he had a car for sale. When I went to his place, I discovered that he was calling me from police custody. On average, I buy a car for N200,000 and I sell it for N250,000. The business is a good one but I’m regretting doing it and if I get out of this, I’ll not return to the trade again,” he added.
The suspect, who is a grandpa, was arrested when his partner, Mohammed Shehu, a father of 12 fell into police net. Shehu himself was arrested when a notorious car thief, Peter Imeh was nabbed after stealing a Honda CRV car in Barnawa, Kaduna south local government area.
While in police net, Peter was asked to invite his partners in crime, and he called Shehu to come for a supposed deal.
“Peter called me that he has Honda Academy car for Haruna Mohammed; when I went there I discovered that he was with the police… I’m not a thief, Shehu said.
Speaking further he said: “We met in Kuje prison in Abuja with Peter. I was taken there when I squandered somebody’s money. We became close at the prison and when we were both released, he introduced me to this business.”
The arrest of Peter Imeh led to the recovery of 16 stolen cars, the police disclosed. The suspect who claimed to be a graduate of Computer Engineering from Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa state, is the ringleader of a car theft syndicate in Kaduna.
The gang has been operating in Kaduna for the past six months. But in an apparent attempt to distance himself from armed robbery charges, Imeh said his gang does not snatch cars at gunpoint.
He said: “I’m arrested for stealing cars; they found six cars in my custody but I don’t use gun or any weapons to steal people’s car and that is why I specialize in Honda cars. I go for Honda cars because with one Honda key you can open any other Honda car. Also, I don’t use master keys.
“I joined the business about six months ago and it was as a result of frustration. I started when I couldn’t secure employment after graduating from the Federal University of Technology, Yola in Adamawa state. I studied computer engineering.
“The business is not that lucrative because the buyers don’t pay us at once. They buy a car for as low as N100,000 and they will not pay you at once. They will first give you N50,000 and afterwards they will be paying in bit by bit,” he said.
The police said they discovered that after stealing cars, the suspects remove all signs and marks and repent it using another colour before selling.
Parading the suspects, the Kaduna state police commissioner, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, said detectives at the anti-car section of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), following a tip-off, arrested Peter Imeh with a CRV Honda car.
According to him, upon interrogation, Peter confessed to series of car theft operations within and outside Kaduna state. He said the arrest of Peter led to the arrest of six other members of the gang.
“On thorough investigation, the syndicate opened up, and that led to the recovery of 15 other stolen vehicles at different locations. Out 16 cars, only two are Toyota. The rest are Honda products,” he added.
From January to this month (June), he said his command carried out a number of raids on suspected criminal hideouts in different locations of the state.
“During the operations, ex-convicts, notorious armed robbery suspects, car thieves and drugs addicts were arrested and arraigned in courts,” he said.
He said a total of 750 suspects were arraigned in courts, 500 convicted and that the remaining 250 were awaiting trials.
He said three weeks ago following a distressed call, detectives from the Anti-Robbery unit engaged a notorious armed bandit operating along Buruku/Birnin Gwari highway in the state.
“Our detectives rushed to the scene and engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle which as a result two of the bandits were gunned down. While combing the bush after the gun duel, our men recovered 7 pieces of AK-47, one single barrel, 1,001 rounds of live ammunition of AK-47, 12 live cartridges and a gulf car,” he said.
He said the police are committed to making the state a-no-stay place for criminals and urged the public to report any suspicious persons to the nearest police station.
“Let me use this medium to reiterate that we will not relent in our fight against criminals and criminality throughout the state. Members of the public are once again urged to continue to report suspicious movements and characters noticed in their areas to the police for prompt action,” the police commissioner urged.