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Kinyarwanda
Four members of the same group, who have been ambushing people in wee hours in Nyamata town of Bugesera District, have been arrested.
The suspects; two men and two women were arrested during a Police targeted operation conducted Thursday.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for Eastern region identified the suspects as Eric Mwiseneza, 21, Clement Ndahiro, 23, Claudine Uwera, 24, and Leoncie Umurerwa, 20.
"There was information from victims and witnesses about a group of boys and girls in Nyamata town, who ambush people late in the evening and snatch their valuables," said CIP Twizeyimana.
"With the help of residents, the wrongdoers were identified and arrested on Thursday. They were arrested on the same spot where they had also set an ambush to steal from other people," he added.
One of the victims, Joseph Hakizimana, said that on November 11, the same group attacked him in the evening and forcefully took his two handsets worth Rwf80, 000, each.
Another victim Ntwari Abdallah, who also identified the same suspects as his attackers, said they ambushed him and took his two mobile phones, two pairs of shoes and a cap. Ntwari had just bought the stolen items in Nyamata town.
The suspects, who admitted to the crimes, said that they were targeting people with valuables like mobile phones, necklaces, shoes and jackets as well as women handbags and others bags they suspect to be containing worthy goods, which they later sell on black market in Nyamata town.
CIP Twizeyimana thanked residents, who facilitated successful operations to identify and arrest the prime suspects and called for continued information sharing on people they suspect to be engaged in such criminal tendencies.
Theft, under article 166 of the law determining offences and penalties, is punishable with an imprisonment of between one and two years, and a fine ranging between Rwf1 million and Rwf2 million; community service of up to six months or one of these penalties.
