Uganda police have exposed how thugs use concealed number plates on their rides to attack naïve victims including passengers, homes, and factories of their property.
A police team comprising of Information Communication and Technology –ICT teams set up to operate Closed Circuit Television –CCTV cameras at a range of police divisions in Kampala and National CCTV Centre at Naguru compiled a report after doing research for a period of up to six months.
The team that was working under the command of Commissioner of Police –CP Felix Baryamwisaki has established that the gangsters use black tapes to alter registration plates.
The report also revealed that the scandalous gangsters mainly change number plates on taxis, motor vehicles like Premios, Pick UPs and Isuzu.
Citing an incident where a taxi registration number UBF 860J that was altered to UBE 869D after the tricksters tampered with letter F to E and J to D respectively only using dark tape.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, says after reports at Kiwatule Police Station, Kampala Central Police Station –CPS and Kira Division from various victims’ police put CCTV operators on alert that started investigations monitoring the number plates.
Enanga says the criminal gangs usually push passengers out after smartly swindling them or sometimes pretend that they have changed journeys.
Investigators focused CCTVs in the various cited places. Police retrieved CCTV footage from the time passengers were robbed and tracked the taxi up to the point where criminals removed the black tapes.
At least 108 suspected criminals are now in custody at different police stations in Kampala following a joint security operation that combed through various divisions including the northern bypass.
By the time of these arrests, millions of shillings were robbed by these criminals using rides with altered registration number plates.
