Two arrested over theft of motor vehicle number plates in Gulu
The new wave of crime targets private number plates, where intern owners are demanded to pay money if they are to recover their number plates.
By Christopher Nyeko
Gulu: Security in Gulu city yesterday arrested two notorious goons who have for the last 6 months been engaging in pugging off vehicle registration numbers from a private motor vehicle.
The new wave of crime targets private number plates, where intern owners are demanded to pay money if they are to recover their number plates.
The arrested were identified by security as 24-year-old Onen Ruston, a resident of the Acoyo cell in Laroo-Pece Division, and 22-year-old Ismael Shudil, a resident of Kanyagoga in Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City.
Peter Banya, the resident city commissioner in charge of Laroo-Pece division in Guru City, confirmed the arrest, saying the duo were arrested on an intelligent lead operation following increasing and continuous complaints raised about a new wave of crime in the city involving the plugging of vehicle registration number plates from Gulu City.
Banya says the security was directed to the resident where one suspect, one ration, was living, where he was arrested and several number plates were recovered from him. He thereafter directed security to Kangagoga, where Ismael Shudil was also arrested with some number plates.
The suspect, when interrogated, revealed that they were introduced to this dubious business by someone only identified as Kidega, who is still at large.
According to security, criminals normally plug off the number plates from a parked motor vehicle, especially from a drinking joint or roadside, and later leave their telephone number, directing the victim to deposit some money to their mobile money account, ranging from one hundred and fifty thousand shilling to two hundred thousand shilling. Upon depositing the money, the owner is directed to where to pick up their registration number plates.
Some of the registration number plates that were recovered on Sunday include UBF 207 E, UBE 915 A, UAR 042 U for both the front and back sides, and UBH 703K for both the front and back sides.
Other number plates include SSD 875AT,UBB132P,UBB646P and UAU916C.
By press time, the duo were still in the hands of the RCC to help trace other prime suspects who are still at large.
Do you have a story about your community or an opinion to share with us? Email us at theugreports@gmail.com.
