Two suspected motorcycle thieves arrested

Police in Huye District is holding two men, who were arrested attempting to steal and sell-off a motorcycle.

Wednesday, March 07, 2018

Police in Huye District is holding two men, who were arrested attempting to steal and sell-off a motorcycle.

The suspects, aged 44, and 56, were arrested on February 28 in Nyarurembo Village, Gitwa Cell in Tumba Sector.

Investigations indicate that one of the suspects had been contracted by his boss to use the motorcycle in taxi-moto business. However, he allegedly connived with the other to sell off the motorcycle registration number TVS RD 667Z.

But it was recovered.

According to Chief Inspector of Police Emmanuel Kayigi, Police received information about people who were selling a motorcycle.

"What is clear, the rightful owner of the motorcycle, who hails from Byumba in Gicumbi District, was not aware that his motorcycle was being sold. A person, who knew the owner of the motorcycle, immediately called the police but also informed the would-be victim,” CIP Kayigi said.

The suspects had signed a sale agreement and received Rwf1.2 million from the would-be buyer.

The duo is currently detained at Ngoma Police station.

The arrest of the duo comes less than two weeks after another man was also arrested in Kigali trying to steal a motorcycle using a master-key.

Police stepped up operations against motorcycle theft, with about 15 suspected thieves arrested since the beginning of the year. All the 14 motorcycles reported to police as stolen during the same period, were recovered.

The federation of motorcycle cooperatives in Rwanda, FERWACOTAMO, is currently mobilising its members to install a GPS in their motorcycles, which they say will help to track down stolen motorcycles.

Currently, there are about 55, 000 commercial motorcyclists across the country with over 13700 of them operating in the City of Kigali.

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