By Mariam Namakula
Police has on Tuesday 30, has arrested five of the suspects of vandalism and spare parts’ organised criminal gang as they continue hunt for several others.
Mr Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson noted that through their Directorate of Crime Intelligence, in coordination with KMP and Mukono police, managed to crack down an organized criminal gang that had specialized in vandalism and theft of spare parts from long distance trucks, lorries and trailers that are parked alongside the road, fuel stations, other parking lots and in vulnerable locations.
During this operation, whose intelligence was carried out last week, 5 suspects have been arrested including a one Sendagire Muhammad, Matege Dan, Mukasa Robert, Muhindo Joseph and Jagwe Arthur and a serious manhunt for other members of the criminal gang is ongoing.
“Under the pretext of repairing a broken-down truck, they end up removing the spare parts, especially the diff and axles, on parked trucks along the Mukono Jinja highway,” the statement reads in part. Adding that the crackdown operation covered areas of Bugembe, Katwe and Nakanyonyi in Jinja City, where an assortment of suspected stolen spare parts were recovered.
Enanga noted that a search at their known promises, led to the successful recovery of 58 axles, 02 diffs and 2 gear boxes that were stolen from 6 trucks, including a Fuso registration number UBJ 370H, that was parked at Best Petrol station Mbalala, Fuso registration number UBE 952Y that was parked at Igar Petrol station, Mukono, Fuso registration number UBG 249X, that was parked at Meru Petrol station in Mbalala, Fuso registration number UBH 896L that was parked in Mbalala, Fuso registration number UAL 761Z that was parked at Lake Oil Namataba and Isuzu forward registration number UBE 824S that was parked at Magnon Petrol station in Lugazi.
He added that the arrests of the suspects thus demonstrated their resolve as the police to rid the transport industry of criminality, however urging the truck drivers to also take precautionary measures especially while driving these long routes because they wanted the drivers/motorists to feel safe on the roads.
“As we intensify our roads policing through targeted patrols, we also urge all drivers of trucks and lorries to always ensure they park in well-lit and secured areas, and if possible, to leave some space between their trucks when they park,” Enanga emphasized.
Adding that these precautionary measures not only prevent accidental damage, but it also meant thieves or vandals are most likely to be seen but also assuring the victims that they had the right suspects and were being processed for further court action.
