250 Arrested, 1600 Stolen Phones Recovered in City Security Raid

By Kampala Post Reporter

Joint security teams on Thursday raided the City in an operation meant to crackdown on mainly motorcycle and phone robberies.

A total of 250 suspects were rounded up during raids on shops dealing in suspected stolen phones and other electronic devices, on Cooper Complex and Mutaasa Kafeero. The security teams also raided shops around Muganzirwaza, suspected to be selling stolen motorcycles and spare parts.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says the operation was prompted by the recent spike in thefts and robberies of motorcycles plus phones and other electronic devices. “Our joint security task teams on the 24/10/2019, conducted three separate but well-coordinated raids on shops that were dealing in suspected stolen items within Kampala City. In the last couple of months, there has been an upward trend of motorcycle thefts and robberies, theft of phones and electronic devices,” Enanga told the media after the security operation.

“At this stage we have managed to recover 134 suspected stolen motorcycles, an assortment of spare parts and electronic devices including 1600 phones from Cooper complex,” he added. The police spokesperson explained that all the items recovered are clearly marked with the location and where they were recovered from. “We are inviting people to come to KMP headquarters, and crosscheck the electronic devices and phones recovered including laptops, cell phones, as well as tablets, computer monitors, TVs. Those following the suspected stolen motorcycles should proceed to CID headquarters in Kibuli with supporting documents,” he said.

According to Enanga, the security teams acted on intelligence to raid the exact shops with stolen items. On Monday the police in Kawempe had arrested one suspect with 160 stolen phones. “We believe so many people’s lives were affected by the violent thefts of motorcycles, phones and other electronic items. It is against this background that we tackled the problem by finding people who buy the stolen items,” Enanga further said.

He added that police had received complaints that “dealers in these shops unblock and give devices new IMEI numbers making the stolen phones find their way back on the streets as legitimate ones.” “By providing a conduit for the thieves to be able to convert the stolen items or motorcycles, phones and electronic devices; they are encouraging the commission of the offenses. The massive operation will definitely disrupt the supply line for stolen merchandise and we are hopeful it will reduce the number of burglaries, street robberies, theft of motorcycles and related murders,” Enanga observed.

Enanga appealed to those with information regarding such criminals to provide it to police via whatsapp number 0707114114 . The hotline was provided last week by Deputy Inspector General of Police Sabiiti Muzeeyi while he announced the revised security plan to deal with criminal gangs, especially around the City.