Police arrest 47-year-old car snatcher, two others for theft

The Police in Delta State have arrested 47-year-old notorious car snatcher, Dickson Omage, and two others for allegedly stealing a Toyota Corolla Saloon car along Eku/Warri road by Oha Junction in Okpe Local Council of the state.

The other suspects are Samson Ekwunwa, 40 and Kanebi Michael, 39.

The Guardian learnt that they were nabbed in Benin City, Edo State in connection with the stolen car on April 19, 2024.

Conforming the development, spokesperson for Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe, said Police operatives swung into action at about 4:32a.m., following information from a resident (name withheld) of Abuja Road DSC Township Orhuwhorun that his car was stolen from where it was parked in Orhuwhorun town

He stated that the owner of Toyota Corolla Saloon car sighted his car along Eku/Warri road by Oha Junction in Okpe Local Council, and immediately informed the Police.

“Following the information, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Orerokpe, CSP Paul Oboware, swiftly mobilised patrol teams alongside members of Oha community vigilante and gave the suspects a hot chase to Army checkpoint at Orerokpe Junction and double-crossed the vehicle.

Recovered vehicles

“Consequently, one Dickson Omage of Post Office Road, Effurun, Warri was arrested with the vehicle and a master key which the suspect uses to carry out his nefarious activities,”  Edafe said.

He said a preliminary investigation carried out by the Police revealed that the suspect and his gang were notorious for stealing cars from where they are parked both in the daytime and at night.

Edafe added that Ekwunwa and Michael, who were arrested in Benin City following the confession of their gang leader, Omage, specialised in removing old chassis numbers, engine numbers and replacing them with new ones, before putting the vehicles for sale, as well as demobilising vehicles with car trackers.

He disclosed that 12 suspected stolen vehicles were recovered from the suspects in Benin City and Warri respectively with registration and chassis numbers, adding that investigation is still ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.