A Police crackdown on motorcycle theft has led to the arrest of two commercial motorcycle operators said to have been stealing from their colleagues. Jean de Dieu Habimana alias Shukuru, 34, and Gabriel Ngirabatware alias Kagabo, 42, were apprehended recently following a collaboration between police and members of the motorcycle association. The duo is believed to be part of the ring that has so far stolen five motorcycles in Kigali city in the last two years. Two of the missing motorcycles were stolen in the last two months, police said. The motorcycles were stolen from Gatenga, Giporoso, Kagarama and Masaka, all in Kicukiro District, and Kacyiru in Gasabo District. “After thorough investigations with the help of motorcyclists, we narrowed down the list of suspects to Habimana. He actually collaborated and led the officers to his accomplice – Ngirabatware – who was arrested later that night in Ruhuha, Bugesera District,” Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi, Police spokesperson for the central region, said. Both Habimana and Ngirabatware, however, said they stole only two motorcycles, one in Giporoso in May and another one at Kacyiru in July, and denied stealing the other three motorcycles. They revealed having used master keys to steal the motorcycles from the parking yard, especially at night. Speaking from Police, the suspects also disclosed they had sold the two motorcycles in a neighbouring country at Rwf700, 000. “It is likely that someone can commit a crime, but they are not likely to get away with it because there is a network between security organs and the public, which led to the arrest of these prime suspects,” Superintendent Mbabazi added. He appreciated the current cooperation with the public and neighbouring police forces which he said had led to apprehension of criminals either in or outside the country and recovering of stolen items. Mbabazi urged the public to give no room to criminality by playing an active role in crime prevention through timely information sharing. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
