The Delta State Police Command has apprehended five individuals involved in the theft of a luxury vehicle belonging to Young Shall Grow Motors. The suspects allegedly conspired to steal and dismantle the vehicle for sale in Delta State, but their plans were foiled thanks to proactive police measures.
During a press briefing, the command’s spokesperson, SP Edafe Bright, described the case as “unique” due to the calculated method used to execute the crime. According to Bright, the primary suspect previously worked as a panel beater for Young Shall Grow Motors. After leaving the company, he closely monitored its operations.
“He has been monitoring where they park their vehicle in Abia State and he knows of a fact that they don’t usually lock their doors and they always leave the key at the ignition of the vehicle,” Bright revealed.
The suspect contacted accomplices, and together, they moved the vehicle from Aba in Abia State to Warri in Delta State, intending to sell it to scrap dealers. However, their plan unraveled when scrap dealers demanded proper documentation for the vehicle, following warnings from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ekpan, Delta State.
“The DPO had proactively warned scrap dealers not to purchase vehicles without proper documentation,” Bright stated, explaining that this precaution raised suspicions. Acting on intelligence, police intercepted the vehicle in a bush where the suspects planned to dismantle it.
During interrogation, one of the suspects, Michael Odubo, confessed, “Last week, when I went to Aba to buy goods, I noticed the vehicle. I called the driver and planned to drive it to Warri to sell it.”
Odubo disclosed that the vehicle was to be sold for ₦5 million, despite its engine alone being worth ₦13 million.
SP Bright condemned the suspects’ actions, emphasizing the futility of criminal activities. “There is no gain in criminality. At one point or the other, you’ll get caught,” he warned, urging vehicle owners to adopt safety measures like securing their vehicles.
The suspects are currently in custody and will face prosecution as investigations continue. Bright commended the DPO’s foresight and urged the public to report suspicious activities, highlighting that proactive policing and community vigilance played a crucial role in avertingthe crime.
