Rwanda National Police

A Rwanda National Police (RNP) intensified crackdown on motorcycle theft in the country led to the arrest of one Francois Ntineshwa, a mechanic in Rubavu District, who stole a motorcycle he had been given to repair.

According to John Mukunzi, the owner of the recovered motorcycle, he gave it to Ntineshwa on December 11 (last Friday) to fix it.

“I met Ntineshwa in Mutura Village, Kanyundo Cell in Mudende Sector where we agreed on what he was to repair, and was supposed to bring it back later that day , which he never did and his phone switched off,” said Mukunzi.

Ntineshwa was arrested on December 13 in Gisenyi town with the motorcycle, which was at the time trying to sell.

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Theobald Kanamugire, Police spokesperson for the Western region, Mukunzi, after finding out that his stolen motorcycle was instead on sale, he was quick to call police.

“He first called a police number in Kigali, but they immediately informed us and we intervened in time and arrested the suspect and recovered the motorcycle in Ubucuruzi Village, Nengo Cell in Gisenyi Sector, where he was posing as the owner and negotiating with a potential buyer,” said CIP Kanamugire.

He called upon the public to always be quick to report to police in case they encounter such theft, to give way for timely response to recover  what was stolen and arrest suspects.

“Since the beginning of this year, four motorcycles have been stolen in Rubavu District, and because of timely information exchange, three of them were recovered and suspects arrested,” he said.

Meanwhile, the fourth motorcycle that is yet to be found, was stolen on December 7 from the district headquarters parking yard, where a suspected thief replaced it with an old one.

The president of the federation of Rwanda motorcyclists cooperatives (FERWACOTAMO), Celestin Ntagambwa said; “We thank the police for their tireless efforts in ensuring that these thieves are apprehended and brought to justice. In the last two weeks we only had one incident of motorcycle robbery. While in two months police have recovered six out of ten stolen motorcycles.”

Ntagambwa attributed this success to a strong partnership between police and the public.

Last month, police arrested eight people, who were also arrested in crackdown operations against motorcycle theft. On Monday, Police paraded three other suspected motorcycle thieves, who are also accused of killing a community night patrol and seriously injuring a motorcyclist in a foiled motorcycle armed robbery. 

Police spokesperson ACP Twahirwa warned those involved in such theft or other crimes that police is well positioned to deal with them and bring them to justice, they are to pay high price for their acts. 

He assured the public of their safety and appealed for partnership with police in prevention and fight against crime.