Police arrest serial car snatcher in Bayelsa

A dismissed soldier, John Andrew, believed to be part of a syndicate that specialised in snatching vehicles with master keys, has been apprehended by the police in Bayelsa State.

Andrew, a confessed serial car snatcher, was arrested on Saturday by policemen on a stop-and-search operation in Akenfa, a suburb of Yenagoa metropolis.

It was learnt that the suspect, who had allegedly stolen many cars with the help of master keys specially made for him in Ghana, operates a five-man gang cutting across Enugu, Benue and Cross River States.

Parading the suspect who hails from Cross River, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, described  him as a ‘’habitual criminal.’’

Amba said Andrew had been arrested in Bayelsa three times.

The commissioner said, ‘’Andrew is a habitual criminal. We have apprehended this suspect three times. The first time he stole some vehicles in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, we apprehended him in Bayelsa.  The second time, he stole some vehicles in Ughelli, Delta  State and brought them into Bayelsa, we were able to apprehend him.

‘’We were able to recover three vehicles from him and the matter was transferred to Delta State Police Command.  The Delta State Police Command arraigned him before the court, however, I do not know whether he has finished serving his jail term or he was granted court bail because I am definitely sure he was not given police bail.

‘’On June 17, 2017, about 1:00 pm, our men, while on routine  stop-and-search operation at Akenfa area, flagged a Toyota car with number-plate AG 599 YEN. The suspect zoomed off to avoid search. He was pursued and arrested by the policemen. The Toyota car was stolen from where it was parked at Green Villa, Biogbolo, Yenagoa.

‘’The owner has been identified. In the course of our investigation, we recovered many master keys. He claimed that each of the keys costs N50,000 and were brought in from Ghana. He said with the keys, he could open any vehicle no matter the make.’’

The police boss said that police investigation revealed that Andrew was a dismissed officer from the Nigerian Army.

He stated that since his dismissal, the suspect had perpetually operated a gang that specialises in stealing vehicles from where they were parked.

‘’We are happy we have caught him again. I want to assure the public that we are up to all his tricks and that with his arrest, the city of Yenagoa and Bayelsa will be at peace

‘’With his arrest, I am sure our vehicles will be more secured. We are going to get some of his gang members in Makurdi and Enugu.’’

In a chat with the suspect, Andrew who said he was dismissed from the Army for mutiny in 2014, confessed to the crime, saying he usually sold each stolen car for N300,000 to one Ike in Makurdi, Benue State.