The Police Command in Delta has apprehended two suspected car snatchers and recovered stolen vehicles from them.
Spokesman for the command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrest in a statement yesterday.
He said the suspects were arrested by police operatives attached to Ughelli Division on Thursday following actionable intelligence.
Edafe said the Commissioner of Police, Wale Abass, had issued a directive to the Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state to nip the increasing trend of car snatching in the bud. He said it was in response to the police commissioner’s order that the suspects were apprehended.
“Following series of reported cases of vehicles’ removal from parking areas in Asaba, Warri, Ughelli and environs, CP Abass directed area commanders and DPOs to nip the trend in the bud.
“On June 15, the DPO, Ughelli division, closely supervised by the Ughelli Area Commander, ACP Ademola, while acting on intelligence gathered, arrested the two suspects.”
“The suspects specialised in snatching vehicles from Warri and environs, taking same to Ughelli where they dismantle them and sell the vehicles in parts,” he said.
The police spokesman said that items recovered from the suspects included 74 vehicle tyres, 16 vehicle engines and eight gear boxes.
Others, he said, were 15 motor batteries, two motorcycle engines and seven suspected stolen vehicles.
“The stolen vehicles included four registered Toyota Corolla, one Toyota Carina and an unregistered Nissan car,” he said.
According to Edafe, the suspects were currently in police custody, adding that investigation in the matter was ongoing.