‘I stole my boss’ car same day I was hired’

Police arrest notorious Ghanaian car snatcher in Lagos
THE Lagos State Police Command has arrested a notorious Ghanaian, who specialises in stealing cars belonging to his employers.   The suspect, Israel Damascus, who was employed as a driver few weeks ago by a retired diplomat at Bode Thomas Street, ran away with the Hyundai car belonging to his employer on his first day at work.  

Following a report by the diplomat, who is an Octogenarian, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, swung into action and instructed the officers of the Special Investigations Bureau (SIB) headed by Veronica Ameh-Akpa, a Superintendent of Police, to trail the suspect.

The SIB through intelligence, arrested the suspect in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, where he was enjoying his loots.   The 31years old suspect, who was freed from Ikoyi Prison in March, noted that he is a specialist in car stealing and snatching.

He told newsmen how he also stole a Lexus Jeep RX300 and a Toyota Corolla car from where they were parked.   According to him, I am from Anumabo in the Central region of Ghana.

I came to Nigeria in 2010. When I came to Nigeria, I was supplying Gala meat pie in Port Harcourt before I joined the gang that introduced me into the business of car snatching.   “I was employed as a driver few weeks ago.

It was the day I was employed that I ran away with the car of my boss. One agent connected me to my employer. I bought someone else’s passports photograph to fill the space of a guarantor.

I did not use my passport. This is not my first time of stealing cars,” he said.   The suspected car thief, who was arrested in a Hotel at Ijebu Ode by Detectives from the SIB, confessed:   “Few months ago, I stole a Toyota Corolla car and a Lexus SUV.

I came back from prison in May. It was my friend who implicated me in the crime that sent me to jail.”    The owner of the stolen car, a retired diplomat, who does not want his name in print, said: “ I am really grateful to the Nigeria Police.

I feel proud that my car was lost and the Nigeria Police found it. I interviewed him (the suspect) as my driver on that fateful Friday; he went on road test with me.

I came down from the car to buy something and asked him to wait for me but before I returned; he had run away with my car. “I want to advise employers of drivers to verify who their applicants claim they are before employing them.”

Acting spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Patricia Idahosa Amadin, who confirmed the story, noted that the suspect would soon be charged to court.