Rwanda National Police (RNP), on Friday September 3, recovered a motorcycle in Nyanza District belonging to one Janvier Habimana, about seven hours after it was reported stolen from a parking lot in City of Kigali.
The motorcycle was stolen earlier that morning in Gatenga Sector of Kicukiro District using a master key.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said that the taxi-moto was recovered at about 5pm, in Karuhwanya Village, Gatagara Cell in Mukingo Sector from the suspect thief identified as Damascene Hakizimana, 20, who was also taken into custody.
“Hakizimana was looking for the buyer of the motorcycle that evening; he was valuing it at Frw500, 000 and had no any supporting documents of ownership, which raised residents’ suspicion that he could have stolen it,” SP Kanamugire said.
He added: “Residents swiftly called the Police at about 5pm, officers arrived shortly and arrested Hakizimana with the motorcycle. During interrogation, Hakizimana admitted that he stole the motorcycle earlier that morning at about 10am, from Gatenga in Kicukiro District. Police located and informed the rightful owner, Habimana about the recovery of his moto.”
Habimana commended RNP for the swift recovery of his motorcycle, which he also attributed to the effectiveness of community policing.
SP Kanamugire also lauded the vigilance and quick reaction of the residents, who called the Police leading to the recovery of the stolen motorcycle and arrest of the suspected thief.
He further called upon motorcycle owners to fit them with GPS devices for easy tracing when stolen.
Hakizimana has been handed over to RIB for further legal process.
Article 166 of law determining offences and penalties in general states that, any person convicted of theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one (1) year and not more than two (2) years and a fine of not less than Frw1 million and not more than Frw2 million, a community service in a period of six (6) months or only one of these penalties.
In article 167, however, the penalty for theft doubles if the offender committed the crime through burglary, climbing or possession of keys other than the owner.(End).