Rwanda National Police

Twelve  people suspected of belonging to a ring that vandalises and steals car parts and other electronics have been arrested in a Police crackdown in Kigali.

The suspects are currently held at Muhima Police Station as investigations continue.

Police has also recovered an assortment of stolen equipment that include car parts and electronics.

Police Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Police, Celestin Twahirwa, said that the suspects were apprehended with the help of residents who provided Police with information during the operation.

"Three of the suspects were captured red-handed by residents in Remera while trying to vandalize cars in the area. They later alerted Police which arrived at the scene and arrested them," CSP Twahirwa said.

"Further investigations led to the arrest of the other suspects, who are believed to be all operating in the same criminal ring. Some of them steal vehicle parts and anything they find in cars while the others are buyers of stolen items."

One of the suspects, Hassan Karemera, 37, confessed to knowingly purchasing the stolen merchandise, and said that he will cooperate with Police to apprehend more suspects connected to this ring, and recover more items.

"Destroying people's cars to steal radios, mirrors and other valuables is a selfish act; and I am not proud to have been part of this ring. All I did was to buy the merchandise and resell them to garages and to willing buyers. I will cooperate with Police and I urge Rwandans to desist from these terrible acts," Karemera  said.

Police commended residents for providing timely information in crime prevention and urged them to continue working against urban crime.

"Working with Police through community Policing has been influential in overcoming very many crimes. Car vandalism and other urban crimes are not on a high rate in Kigali, but RNP cannot ignore or tolerate even the few that exist. We shall continue to serve professionally and keep the city and country safe against such criminality," CSP Twahirwa said.

Article 300 of the Penal Code stipulates that anyone found guilty of theft without violence or threat shall be liable to a term of imprisonment between six months and two years and a fine between two and five times the value of the stolen property, or one of the penalties.