Sam Philip
Police have busted a syndicate stealing vehicles with master key in Ondo State.
The state Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi disclosed that the 3-member syndicate usually stole vehicles from the parks of owners.
He said the cars they stole from Akure were taken to Lagos for sales or butchering.
Answering questions from journalists during the parade, one of the suspects, Rotimi Akinsanoye, 38 years old, disclosed that they usually operate early in the morning when people are preparing to go to the office.
Other members of the syndicate are Temodayo Folajimi, aged 43, and Waheed Adekanbi,
The Police Commissioner disclosed that the syndicate was busted when, in 2024, a car owner, (names withheld) reported to the police that his car was stolen from his car park at Oke_Aro area of Akure, Ondo state capital.
Immediately, the Police got the vehicle flagged down at the Licensing office.
But the suspects disclosed that the only stole 7 vehicles and three among them had been butchered at Owode Onirin, Lagos.
The remaining two were recovered by the police.
The CP said: “Two weeks ago, the vehicle was presented for registration at the Licensing office and the Police was alerted.
“The man who came to register the car claimed he purchased the vehicle in Lagos at the rate of Four Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira (4,300,000.00 from a car Dealer by name Temidayo Folajimi ‘M’ age 43 years who led the police to one Rotimi akinsanoye ’m’ age 38years.
“During interrogation, Rotimi confessed that he is the mastermind behind most vehicles stolen (removal from Parks) and confessed to have moved a total of seven vehicles out of the state.
“The vehicles he claimed he removed from where parked include: Two Toyota Camry Popularly known as tiny light, one Honda CRV car, two Toyota Corolla 2003 and 2005 model, 2 Toyota Corolla.
He claimed five (5) out of the stolen cars were butchered and sold as spare parts by his cohort Waheed Adekanbi (aka Elubo) in Lagos.
“Two of the vehicles have been recovered while others have been destroyed.
“Waheed Adekanbi ‘m’ age 51years is in custody, helping the police with necessary information needed to confirm the veracity of the claim that the remaining vehicles have been destroyed and sold as spare parts.”