A phone theft racket suspected of stealing and trafficking expensive smartphones has suffered a major blow after police recovered 143 iPhones and arrested three suspects. The operation by the Crime Intelligence Directorate landed the suspects at CPS Kampala, where police say they were found linked to a network involved in stealing phones and selling them […]
A phone theft racket suspected of stealing and trafficking expensive smartphones has suffered a major blow after police recovered 143 iPhones and arrested three suspects.
The operation by the Crime Intelligence Directorate landed the suspects at CPS Kampala, where police say they were found linked to a network involved in stealing phones and selling them off.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire revealed that the suspected mastermind, Tumusime Derrick alias Gana, was arrested while carrying bags containing the stolen gadgets.
His alleged accomplices Niyonzima Fabrice, also known as Sadat; and Kitoko Emmy. were reportedly caught with six phones that were allegedly being prepared for transportation to Rwanda for sale.
But police say the recovered phones tell a bigger story of how stolen gadgets are recycled back into the market.
Owoyesigyire warned phone dealers against buying cheap second-hand phones from strangers, saying some traders unknowingly become part of the stolen property chain.
He explained that thieves often tamper with phones by replacing original motherboards with fake ones to make it harder for owners and police to trace them.
The stolen phones are believed to have come from different incidents, including thefts in bars, cars and cases where phones were snatched from people’s bags.
So far, 20 victims have smiled again after police returned their phones following successful verification.
Police are now calling on anyone who has lost a phone to report the matter, saying a police report could be the difference between recovering a stolen device and losing it forever.
