Masindi couple arrested over vehicle number plate theft
The suspects demanded a ransom of UGX 100,000 to UGX 150,000 from vehicle owners to return the stolen plates.
Masindi : Police in Masindi District have arrested a couple suspected of stealing vehicle number plates from parked cars during nighttime.
Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, revealed that the district has experienced a surge in number plate thefts since the beginning of 2025.
“The thieves would steal number plates from vehicles parked in residential areas at night and leave behind leaflets with phone numbers, demanding victims call and send money to retrieve their stolen number plates,” Hakiza said.
Due to growing public outcry, a joint police operation, led by Regional CID D/SSP Were Ronald and the regional flying squad Albertine, was launched to crack down on the culprits and recover stolen number plates.
Police efforts led to the arrest of Tindyebwa Phiona and her husband, Bagonza Morris, who confessed to stealing number plates from three vehicles; UBP 615E and UBF 350D, belonging to Engineer Kasaija John and UBE 465W, belonging to Businge Fred.
The suspects demanded a ransom of UGX 100,000 to UGX 150,000 from vehicle owners to return the stolen plates.
Hakiza further noted that Bagonza Morris, the main suspect, is originally from Kidera in Buyende District and has been operating in Masindi, Kigumba, and Bweyale.
Both suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. “We extend our gratitude to community leaders for their assistance in the arrest,” Hakiza added.
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