Police in the Kampala Metropolitan Area have arrested five suspects in connection with the theft of motor vehicle number plates following a surge in similar incidents reported in several city suburbs.
According to the Uganda Police Force spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan Area, Rachael Kawala, the suspects were arrested during operations conducted by officers from Katwe Police Station after residents raised complaints about the increasing theft of number plates.
Kawala said the crimes had been reported mainly in the areas of Ndejje, Mutundwe, and Masajja.
Preliminary police findings indicate that the suspects allegedly removed number plates from parked vehicles and then left behind their telephone contacts, demanding money from vehicle owners in order to return the stolen plates.
During the operations conducted in the affected areas, police recovered more than 20 number plates believed to have been stolen from different motorists.
“The suspects allegedly steal number plates and leave behind their phone contacts demanding cash from the victims,” Kawala said.
The suspects are currently being detained at Katwe Police Station as investigations continue. Police say operations to combat the theft of number plates are still ongoing and more arrests could be made.