Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Police
Command on Friday arrested a car thief, an ex-convict, Kunle Afolabi, after months
of unhindered vandalism of vehicles.
The 31-year-old suspect was reportedly apprehended at CMS,
Lagos Island, after he had vandalised a Toyota Corrolla on Broad Street.
Two brainboxes of
Toyota vehicles and four winding buttons were said to have been recovered from
him. The police said the native of Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, confessed to removing
the auto parts from the car and another Corrolla in the neighbourhood.
“He also confessed to participating in the vandalism of over
57 cars in Lagos. He is an ex-convict; he was arrested by the RRS men around
4am on Friday in CMS after escaping from Broad Street, Lagos Island, where he
had vandalised a car,” the police added.
The suspect, in his statement, reportedly disclosed that he
was initially into illegal oil bunkering, before he took to car theft in 2014.
He said, “I was introduced into stealing of vehicle parts by
Yinka, a friend living on Cole Street, Oyingbo, Lagos, in 2014. Together, we
stole brainboxes of
many vehicles, including Toyota and Lexus. Our areas of operations were Ikoyi,
Victoria Island, Ajah and Lagos Island. We operated thrice weekly.
“Having mastered the act, I started operating alone. I
majored in brainboxes of
(Toyota) Corrolla and Hilux.”
The suspect explained further that he sold brainboxes of Toyota
Corolla N40,000 each while those of Hilux went for N70,000 each.
He stated that buyers were readily available for the stolen
items.
He said, “I usually go for operations on Mondays, Thursdays
and Sundays. Because I wanted to operate on the Lagos Island that night
(Friday), I told my wife that I was going to work. She knows I am into illegal
oil bunkering around Takwa Bay.
“About a year ago, the police forced me to abandon it for
stealing car parts. I surveyed Broad Street around 9pm on Thursday to see any
vehicle I could remove its brainbox.
“When it was 3am, I sneaked into Broad Street for operation.
Before getting there, I had removed the brainbox of a Toyota Corrolla parked on the adjoining
street.
“I had removed the brainbox and all the winding buttons in the car when a
guard spotted me. He raised the alarm which drew the attention of the Rapid
Response Squad officers around. I was chased and arrested. I sell the stolen
items to a vehicle parts dealer, called Senior, in the Coconut area of Ajegunle.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP
Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the arrest, adding that efforts were ongoing to
apprehend more suspects.
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