The Niger State Police Command on Thursday said it has nabbed a car snatching syndicate that specialises in stealing cars from unsuspecting victims who visit the Kure Ultra-Modern Market in Minna.
Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore, said a suspect was arrested while trying to escape with a stolen Honda CRV Jeep along the Minna-Suleja Road.
According to Amore, the three-man syndicate steal cars from Minna and take them outside the state to sell it.
Amore disclosed that the confession of the suspect arrested, Mohammed Yakubu, led to the arrest of Alhaji Saidu Mohammed in Kastina State, who receives the stolen vehicles and sells it, adding that one other member of the syndicate is still on the run.
He then warned shoppers who go to the Minna Ultra-modern Market and other markets in the state with their vehicles to be careful and use car security, adding that the car snatchers have master keys, which can open any vehicle.
When interviewed, one of the suspects, Mohammed Yakubu, said he resides in Lokoja but comes to Minna to steal vehicles, which he later sells in Katsina and Kano States.
The 42-year-old mechanic said it was temptation that led him into the business of stealing cars.
He said he started the business in 2011 and has succeeded in stealing five vehicles so far, to which the police disputed, saying investigations have revealed that the suspect has stolen 11 vehicles.
Yakubu attributed his stealing to luck, saying: “I do not always set out to steal.
“When I see a car parked, I try to open it with my key.
“We just try our luck and if we are lucky, the keys open the door but the keys are not master keys.”
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Police in his assessment of the activities of the Command from January to June said the Command is still winning the war against crime and social disorder in the state.
Amore said despite the numerous challenges confronting the police, the police intends to redouble its efforts in providing quality policing services to the people.
According to Amore, the police have recovered 10 AK47 rifles, four pump action rifles, 10 single barrels, one double barrel, one pistol, eight locally made pistols, three locally made revolver guns and 794 rounds of live ammunition from armed robbers and cattle rustlers.
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