Withdrawing money at ATMs, banking hall, forex bureau or mobile money outlet is slowly becoming dangerous in Kampala as a new gang trailing unsuspecting clients and robbing them clean emerges. In the last fortnight, police have recorded over 20 incidents of people who have been trailed and robbed of their money or valuables.
In one of the incidents which were captured by Closed Circuit Television (CCTV), a woman whose details police have concealed think a hunt for the robbers is in high gear, was surveyed from the time she entered KCB branch at Lugogo in Kampala.
Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, says the group has a man seeming a Boda-boda rider who could stage outside the money service centres. Enanga has identified the group spy as Jimmy Muwazi who has since been arrested.
Muwazi is seen parking opposite KCB waiting for the woman to emerge out of the bank. Soon after the woman entered her car and drove off, Muwazi started trailing her up to when she parked outside a supermarket in Sonde.
The CCTVs show Muwazi seeming sending a text to his accomplices who came and parked adjacent to where the woman had parked. Three people emerged from a Toyota Wish with breaking implements. Within less than a minute, they had broken into the car and removed a bag with 50 million shillings.
“A boda boda rider of motorcycle registration number UFG 326 Z, identified as Mawazi Jimmy was captured at various CCTV zones, actively surveilling unsuspecting clients from banks, up to the stage where they park their vehicles, to either go shopping, or make stop overs, for lunch or drinks,” Enanga said.
He adds “His accomplices with vehicle intrusion devices in a motor vehicle would immediately come into contact with the targeted vehicle, break-in and rob the cash and other valuables. The suspects were using two vehicles, a Toyota Spacio and Toyota wish to rob their targets.”
Police say that the group have technology that can mute alarms in cars, public and shopping centres. The new tech technology, according to police, has also made it easier for car break ins at drive ways and parking lots at night.
Enanga further elaborates “the perpetrators use electronic devices, typically used by mechanics to reprogram the factory settings and also disconnect the alarms, from below the dashboard. This enables them to strip the vehicle, of its spare parts and electronic gadgets.”