Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) foiled a criminal ring involving five men who are suspected to  to have jointly stolen a vehicle in Kigali.

 The suspects – indentified as Rashid Mugisha, Alfred Niyonsenga, Patrick Sayinzonga, Christian Amani and Athanase Niyibigira - are currently held at Remera Police Station as further investigations commence.

 They were all nabbed in different places last week, after their latest attempt to steal and sell a Toyota Rav4 which they had found packed in Kisementi, Remera.

 Speaking to the press on Monday, the Police Spokesperson for Central Region, Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, said that the criminal ring was cracked after intense investigations, which were aided by residents who provided credible information in the course of investigations.

 “The suspects involve those who carried out the actual stealing of  the car, middlemen who looked  for potential buyers and those who knowingly bought the stolen car” he said.

 “The owner of a Toyota Rav4 reported to Police that his car had been stolen, and this initiated  a series of investigations that led us to the buyer. After apprehending the buyer, he led us to the car thieves and we arrested them too.”

 Superintendent Mbabazi added that: “During the course of investigations, many residents came to us with information about suspects’ names and names of those who look for buyers for stolen cars. We are hopeful that with more cooperation with the public, Police will continue to  perform its  job effectively, to protect lives and property.”

 The owner of the Toyota Rav4, who spoke on condition of anonymity, thanked Police for its professional and efficient investigations which enabled him to get back his car.

 “I bought this car with Rwf5 million and I am so grateful that I have recoevered it in good condition. It was a shock when I found it not packed where I had left it and I thought I would never get it again, but I have it now. I am very grateful,” he said.

Surprising the thieves had sold the car at a cost of only RWF 500.000 as confirmed by the buyer regardless of its value mentioned by the owner.

 Police said that most cars stolen in Kigali are mainly destroyed by the thieves who seek to sell spare parts to garages. In other instances, the vehicle’s appearance and plate number is changed and sold within to avoid being detected while crossing borders to neighboring countries.

 Early in April, a Police crackdown led to the arrest of 12 people suspected of belonging to a group that vandalises and steals car parts and other electronics inside Kigali City.

 Police is also vigilant to prevent  theft of vehicles across  borders  through use of  an Interpol tool known as I-24/7 installed at every border post , it facilitates detection of  stolen or smuggled cars from  other countries.