Five suspected car thieves arrested with fake UPDF ID card

Mbale district police arrested five people on charges of car theft and smuggling.
Mr Sowedi Manshur, spokesperson for the Elgon area police, said the suspects, who had stolen the vehicles in different parts of eastern Uganda last month, were arrested during the an operation in Moyo district.
“We have made a breakthrough in suspected vehicle theft and we have suspects in custody,” Manshur said.
He said the five suspects would be charged with aggravated theft and identity theft after they were found with a fake Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) ID card.
Manshur further noted that the police recovered four of the 12 stolen vehicles, two master keys and the fake UPDF ID card in the names of one of the suspects.

He revealed that among the recovered vehicles were the Toyota UAV 985R which is owned by Mr. Muhammedi Norman, Primo UAU 132A which is owned by Mr. Steven Masinga, another Primo UAY 325A stolen from Hajji Dauda of Nakaloke and another Reg No UAW car. 051C stolen from Mr. Julius Kalele.
He said some of the stolen vehicles had already crossed the border.
“We are in contact with Interpol to try to recover these vehicles, which these thugs claim are already in DR Congo,” he said.
Mr Manhur said the suspects allegedly used a photocopy of a fake UPDF identity card that was believed to be theirs to go through checkpoints after stealing vehicles.

UPDF spokesman Brigadier Richard Karemire when contacted said the suspects would be treated accordingly.
Mbale District Police Commander Mathias Turyasingura has called on car owners to install the Global Car Tracking System (GPS) to help track stolen vehicles online.

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