Ondo State Police Arrests Car Theft Syndicate
The Ondo State Police Command has successfully apprehended a three-man syndicate notorious for car theft in Akure. This decisive action follows a significant rise in reports of stolen vehicles in the area, prompting an immediate response from law enforcement.
At a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Akure, State Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, detailed the operations that led to the suspects’ arrest.
“Two weeks ago, one of the stolen vehicles was presented at the licensing office for registration, prompting quick action from our team,” he stated emphatically.
The individual attempting to register the vehicle alleged he purchased it in Lagos for ₦4,300,000 from a car dealer named Temidayo Folajimi, aged 43. This critical information led to the swift capture of another accomplice, Rotimi Akinsanoye, aged 38.
In a thorough interrogation, Rotimi admitted to orchestrating the theft of multiple vehicles, confessing to stealing a total of seven cars. The plundered vehicles included:
- Two Toyota Camry cars, commonly known as “tiny light.”
- One Honda CR-V.
- Two Toyota Corolla models from 2003 and 2005.
Rotimi further revealed that five of the stolen cars were dismantled and sold for spare parts by his associate, Waheed Adekanbi, aged 51, known as “Elubo,” in Lagos. While two of the stolen vehicles have been successfully recovered, the remainder was destroyed.
CP Afolabi confirmed Waheed’s arrest and asserted, “He is currently in custody and providing vital information to verify the claims that the remaining vehicles were dismantled and sold as spare parts.”
The commissioner issued a firm warning regarding the use of tinted windows and obscured vehicle number plates, highlighting how criminals exploit these features to operate undetected.
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