Police in Kigali have recovered about 460 construction pipes, worth Rwf14 million, stolen on January 20, from China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) offices in Kinyinya Sector, Gasabo District.

The materials were recovered on Wednesday in a church in Kibagabaga, Kimironko Sector.

Police Spokesperson Chief Supt Celestin Twahirwa said the theft was orchestrated by the company’s employees including a driver, who are still at large.

"The materials were stolen during lunch time as all employees had left for lunch. The robbers broke into the compound and loaded the materials on a Fuso truck belonging to CCECC before driving away,” CSP Twahirwa said.

According to investigations, the thieves hid the pipes in a house in Murama Cell in Kinyinya before taking them to a church on January 25, where they were recovered.

"After using the truck, registration number 690N, to transport the materials, they abandoned the vehicle in Gacuriro where it was recovered,” he said.

The vehicle and the construction materials were handed back to the owners yesterday.

Twahirwa appealed to companies and businesses to be more security sensitive.

"Police will continue to protect people and their property but it is also important that the public be more vigilant especially through community policing strategies,” he said.

Ricky Wang, who received the vehicle and the materials on behalf of CCECC, said after learning that the truck was missing, the same afternoon, they immediately alerted Police, which launched immediate investigations.

"We are grateful to Police for having recovered these materials and it should be a lesson to others who could be involved in illegal activities that they will also be arrested,” Wang noted.