Police operatives from 55PMF and Eziama Police Division, Aba have arrested a suspected serial car snatcher indentified as Victor Eborgu, who allegedly specialised in stealing Mercedes Benz cars in Aba, a major commercial town in Abia State.
Eborgu was reportedly picked up by security operatives at Enitona Hotel, Aba following a complaint made to the police about a car that was stolen from where it was packed at City Global Hotel in the town.
The police officers acting on a tip-off, it was learnt, traced the suspect to the hotel and recovered one Mercedes Benz 230E car with registration number UMA 134 HR from him.
It was gathered that the arrest of the suspect also led to the recovery of another stolen Mercedes Benz 203E car with registration number AE 926 AMB, from where it was hidden at Elekota Hotel in the Ogor Hill area of Aba. The car was allegedly stolen from Osisioma Aba by the same suspect.
The suspect, who claimed to be a Political Science undergraduate of Caristas University Enugu, has confessed to the crime. He said his friend, identified only as Kalu, now at large, introduced him to the crime.
He said he had stolen four vehicles since he met Kalu three years ago, adding that he sold the cars to an undisclosed buyer, who resides in Bayelsa State at N80, 000 each.
Also arrested in connection with the car theft was one Chidiebere Nnamezi, a blacksmith who molded master car keys for the suspect.
He claimed he was not aware that the suspect was using the car keys he molded to steal cars, saying, “I learnt this key-molding trade from my father and I have a shop where I stay to attend to my customers for about five years now. I do not mold keys for criminals, but I’m duty-bound to attend to anyone who demands for my services”.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeleye Oyabade, who paraded the suspects at the Command headquarters in Umuahia, said, “We advise car owners to ensure that they install at least one security device in their cars that will prevent car snatchers from stealing them. The arrest of the blacksmith who molds the master keys for the hoodlums, will lead to a drop in car theft in the state”.
PUNCH
