Yaounde: Police dismantles gang reportedly specialised in car theft.

This was at the esplanade of the Centre Regional Judicial Police Division at the Mokolo neighbourhood in Yaounde. 

The three gang members were paraded by the Head of the Regional Judicial Police Division for the Centre Region, Police Commissioner Moise Emane Emane. 

The suspected culprits were identified as Akono Essimbi Franck and Hadilou Tchoumo, both ex-convicts, who played a key role in the thefts while the third suspect, Abba Gana, was identified to be specialized in selling the stolen vehicles.

Suspects caught in the act

The Head of the Regional Judicial Police Division for the Centre Region, Police Commissioner Moise Emane Emane, told reporters that the gang members were apprehended following the theft of two brand new vehicles in August 2024. 

Commissioner Emane Emane revealed that the two stolen vehicles, a Toyota Camry CE 8679 M, and a Toyota Hiace Ce 288 KQ, were respectively owned by civil administrator, Moukoko Mbondjo Franck Isaac, and a Rwandan national, Mukamukiza Valentine. 

“The victims were targeted by the gang in separate incidents”, Commissioner Emane Emane disclosed.

He added that gang's modus operandi involved targeting poorly parked brand-new Toyota vehicles in public places across the capital city. 

“The criminals would wait until no security personnel were present or when the vehicle owner was far away, then use falsified keys to steal the cars,” he disclosed. 

Once stolen, Commissioner Emane Emane said the vehicles were taken to far off areas like Soa or Mimboman.

In these areas, he said the suspects then “disabled the GPS tracking system before transporting the vehicles to the Far North for sale”. 

Police swings to action, prescribe vigilance 

Cueing in, the Head of Research and Criminal Investigation Unit at the Centre Regional Judicial Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police Charles Gaston Ndonge, who led the operation, said the stolen Toyota CAMRY was located and secured at the Kousseri Central Police Station in the Far North Region.

This, Ndonge disclosed, was with the help of local police units in the area. He added that the Toyota HIACE stolen from Madame Mukamukiza was also recovered in the Far North Region. 

Ndonge who led the operation, lauded the dedicated efforts and resources provided by the Delegate General for National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguélé, which led to the success of the operation. 

Ndonge on behalf of the corps, urged the population to take preventive measures to protect their vehicles by ensuring it is “properly locked and parked in secured and visible areas”. 

He also advised vehicle owners to install the Global Positioning System, GPS, tracker in their vehicles to “facilitate recovery in case of theft”. 

“Residents are encouraged to report criminal activities or any acts of insecurity by calling the police on 1500 or 117, or by visiting the nearest police station,” Ndonge added.

Victims laud police friendship, bravo 

Speaking to reporters, one of the victims, a Rwandan, Mukamukiza Valentine, lauded the police for its bravery and the promptness which led to the recovering of the stolen vehicle. 

"When my car was stolen, I feared it was gone for good, but thanks to their dedication and collaboration with security forces, it has been returned. I commend their professionalism and the resources they deployed to track down the culprits,” Mukamukiza told reporters. 

The experience, Mukamukiza said, has taught her “how important it is for us, as citizens, to be vigilant and take extra precautions with our vehicles”.

“I also encourage others to support the police by reporting any suspicious activities because their timely intervention can prevent these crimes from happening to someone else," the victim encouraged. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No: 3261 of Wednesday October 16, 2024