RRS arrests suspected 27-year-old car thief

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday arrested Benjamin Michael, 27, for attempting to remove a Mercedes Benz A-Class with the registration number UB 202 AAA from the park of a popular nightclub (name withheld) in Ikeja.

The suspect, who hails from Ughelli in Delta State, was arrested after policemen prevented the angry mob from carrying out jungle justice on him when they sighted him entering the car.

The suspect, who had sustained some injuries on his head before the arrival of RRS operatives, was taken to the hospital for medical attention by the police. Upon his arrival at the RRS’ headquarters, he confessed that his plan was to steal the vehicle and take it out of Lagos to a neighbouring country to sell.

“I took a wrap of Indian-hemp before I went to the club that night. On getting there, I was looking for a car whose door was not locked. Then, I started opening all the vehicles parked at the club’s parking space one after the other. I discovered that the car in question was not locked, which gave me free entry into it. I entered the car quietly with the aim of removing it from where it was parked and take it out for sale,” he disclosed.

The suspected criminal said he was unaware that some people were seeing him while entering the vehicle. “As I entered the car, I saw a group of men coming towards me. I still pretended as if the car was mine. When they got to my side, they asked me if the car was mine. Unknowingly to me, the owner of the car was with them.

“I confidently told them the car belonged to me. They dragged me out of the vehicle and started beating me. If not for the timely intervention of the police, they would have killed me that night,” he said.

It was gathered that the policemen, who were on their routine patrol along the axis, rescued the suspect when he was about to be set ablaze by the enraged youths.

While confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of Lagos State Police Command, SP Dolapo Badmus, said efforts were in progress to arrest his colleagues.

“The suspect would be charged to court upon completion of our investigations. My advice to every vehicle owner is to ensure that “your vehicles are parked in a secured place and properly locked to prevent car thieves from taking undue advantage of such negligence,” she added.