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Police warn of rise in phone thieves
People in downtown Kampala during shopping ahead of Christmas for 2021. Police say such crowds are often targeted by phone snatchers. PHOTO | ISAAC KASAMANI
What you need to know:
- Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said they have registered a rise in cases of muggings, especially in Kawempe Division, Kampala City.
The public has been warned to be vigilant amid rise in cases of gangs on motorcycles who attack unsuspecting pedestrians and rob them of their property in several parts of Kampala Metropolitan Area.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said they have registered a rise in cases of muggings, especially in Kawempe Division, Kampala City.
“There is a rise in the cases of phone and bag snatching in Kawempe Division, Northern Bypass, Kafumbe-Mukasa Road and Namirembe Road. The gangs use motorcycles to flee the crime scene,” Mr Owoyesigyire said yesterday.
Cases of phone snatching by motorcycle gangs had reduced at the beginning of the year after several operations by the Directorate of Crime Intelligence.
Mr Owoyesigyire said most of the suspects, who were arrested and produced in court, are being released on bail.
“They often get bail after being on remand for six or more months. We believe that the same groups are the ones mobilising their accomplices to carry out violence on the streets,” he said.
The suspects often target lone pedestrians, especially females, early in the morning or late in the evening.
One of the gang members puts the victim in a chokehold. The other grabs the bag of the victim and also empties the pockets of any property before they jump on a waiting motorcycle and flee the scene.
On Saturday, three suspected phone snatchers using a motorcycle targeted pedestrians from whom they robbed their phones and bags in Kansanga Town, Makindye Division. Some of their victims sustained injuries as they were hit with iron bars.
The suspects were pursued by the members of public and security agents before they were cornered at Kabalagala Town where one was killed while the other two survived with senior injuries after a beating.
Mr Owoyesigyire said police have mounted an operation to arrest the suspected gang members and so far, more than 100 have been arrested and produced in court in the last months.
He said some of the recovered stolen items have been handed back to the owners.
Police have warned members of the public to avoid walking alone and with huge sums of money because they are likely to be targets to the criminals.
In another advisory, the police told motorists and pedestrians who use the Northern Bypass and Kafumbe-Mukasa Road to keep their smart phones in their pockets rather than holding them in their hands.
BACKGROUND
The police annual crime report indicates that in 2022, 6,854 robberies cases were reported compared to 5,275 cases reported in 2021. Simple robbery cases were 4,338 while aggravated robbery-complaints topped 2,516. By the end of 2022, out of the total cases of robberies reported to police, 1,831 cases were taken to court, 224 did not go beyond police, while 4,799 remained under inquiry.
