Suspected car number plate robber arrested in Entebbe

A few minutes to 3am on February 23 this year, an unidentified man was captured on a CCTV camera jumping over a gate and into the compound of a resident in Kitala ward, Katabi town council in Wakiso district. 

Seconds later, the alarm systems of two vehicles parked in the compound were triggered the moment the burglar began plucking off the number plates.

But the robber appeared unfazed by the incessant alarms and went about his mission, successfully removing the front number plates from the two vehicles.

Once done, he swiftly climbed over the wall and disappeared into the night with his loot.
It all happened in no more than five minutes.

A few days after reporting the robbery to the police, the resident of the home, Margaret Nakasi, also placed on advertisement of her stolen number plates in the New Vision newspaper — typically required for official processes like replacing stolen number plates.

As she was processing the required paperwork to have her number plates replaced, there emerged a breakthrough.

The police in Entebbe, working with the Special Forces Command (SFC), tracked down a one Shafiq Ssewagaba with nine car number plates believed to have been stolen. 

He was arrested on Thursday (April 2), more than a month since the robbery at Nakasi's home.

She said the burglar had left behind a chit bearing a telephone number on which the owner had to deposit money before they could get directions to the hidden number plates.

'Suspect confessed'

A source privy to the joint operation intimated that it was the same telephone number that security used to track down the suspect. 

"We also applied other intelligence-led tactics until we finally closed in on him. He had victimised many people," said the source.

Confirming the arrest, Kampala metropolitan deputy police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said suspect Ssewagaba is a resident of Nalugala, in Katabi town council.

He said he has been reportedly stealing motor vehicle number plates in Kisubi, Mpala and Abaita Ababiri. 

"Upon arrest, the suspect confessed to targeting parked vehicles, removing front number plates at night, and leaving a contact demanding between sh100,000 and sh200,000 for their return," said Owoyesigyire.

The suspect led officers to various locations where stolen number plates were hidden. Other number plates had earlier been recovered by their owners. 

Following his arrest, Ssewagaba was detained at Entebbe Police station awaiting to be arraigned in court after the Easter holiday.