An ex-convict, Oluwasegun Oladimeji, has been arrested by policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly stealing parts of cars in the Victoria Island area of the state.
Oladimeji was arrested by a patrol team of the RRS after stealing some parts of vehicles on the premises of a firm in VI.
The police said apart from the parts, they also recovered mobile phones, which he allegedly stole from guards on the premises, who were sleeping when he broke in.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the 33-year-old had just served a three-month jail term at the Kirikiri Medium Prison after he was caught stealing spare parts of vehicles in July 2016, in Apapa.
He was said to have returned to crime after he was released in November, 2016.
The suspect said since his release from incarceration, he had stolen no fewer than 47 car brainboxes.
Oladimeji, in his confessional statement to the police, allegedly said he was working for a spare parts dealer, identified as Dona.
He said Dona, who worked at the Ladipo International Market, always gave him specification of car parts to steal.
He said, “I have been working for Dona for the past eight years. I steal different vehicle parts, particularly Toyota products. I remove brain boxes, headlights and rear lights, among others.
“Since I came back from prison in November 2016, I have stolen brain boxes of 47 cars.
“Whenever I am going for an operation, he (Dona) would give me money for my transportation. Most times, he would tell me the specification of the car he would want me to operate on.
“I live on Victoria Island. I had surveyed the company earlier in the day and I knew the cars belonged to the company.
“At about 4am, I removed all I needed from the cars, but the security guards sighted me and raised the alarm.
“Unfortunately, RRS operatives were patrolling at the time. They chased me with their vehicle and arrested me.”
The suspect said the spare parts dealer usually sent someone to collect the items and pay him after every operation.
He identified those working for Dona as Chidozie Onyema, 32; and Ananyor Chukwu, 33.
The suspect, who worked as a barber, said he sometime took the items to the Ajegunle and Oshodi areas of Lagos, where he sold Toyota Corolla brain boxes between N20,000 to N30,000.
Chukwu, in his statement to the police, allegedly admitted to sending money to Oladimeji from Dona.
He said, “He asked me to wait for him at Toyota bus stop or any other place to collect the stolen car parts from Segun (Oladimeji). At times, he gives me N1,000 or N500 after the deal. Segun has been supplying stolen spare parts to him for up to eight years.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the suspects had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.
Source: Punch
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