Rwanda National Police

At least 13 people said to be part of the ring that breaks into houses targeting especially electronics, were arrested in a Police operation conducted on November 14, in Nyarugenge District. 

Chief Inspector of Police  (CIP) Emmanuel Kayigi, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that the "suspects also include people running black electronics market and dealing in assorted stolen items."

Electronics including desktop and laptop computers, and television sets were also recovered from the suspects during the operation, CIP Kayigi said.

"Among the recovered electronics include 38 laptops stolen from different people in various parts of Kigali, and were being sold in black electronic shops in Nyarugenge Sector," he said.

"The operation was in response to series of theft in different parts of the City of Kigali. The aim is to dismantle these black shops that deal in stolen electronics as a way of killing the market and preventing these criminal acts," the spokesperson explained. 

He said that some electronics like computers and handsets are stolen through house break-in, vandalizing car windows and snatching them from pedestrians.

In other cases, the syndicate after stealing a mobile phone they start calling the contacts and tricking their targets that they were recommended for a job by the rightful owner of the stolen phone.

If the target falls in the trap they demand that to get the job he or she must have a laptop as a prerequisite so as to install the software required to do the work.

When you give them the laptop to install the said software that will be the last person you will see them.

Kayigi urged those who have lost their electronic items to crosscheck with the nearest police stations where unclaimed exhibits are stored.

He, however, advised the general public to buy goods from recognized shops to avoid purchasing stolen items.

He further advised to always keep receipts or mark their items to prove ownership once such properties are recovered.

In some cases, Kayigi said, some claimants fail to present proof.

“We always find it had to hand over property recovered from suspected thieves because people who come to claim them do not have documents to ascertain ownership. You have to prove beyond doubt,” CIP Kayigi explained.