Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima has warned car owners to be more cautious when parking, saying their report indicates that 136 vehicles were stolen in a period of three months.
“A total of 136 cases in Kampala metropolitan were reported cases of stolen. Out of those, 36 were recovered,” he said.
Some of the recovered vehicles are still kept at central police station in Kampala and their owners have been called upon to pick them.
Kayima asked all car owners to always run to police with right documents like log books so that appropriate actions are taken.
Busia District police commander Ezra Tugume said that despite their efforts to guard the boaders, car theft crimes seem to be on increase.
He gave an example of a Toyota car that was stolen from Makindye and recovered in Eldoret, Kenya, about 200km from Kampala.
Frank Mwesigwa, the Commander Kampala Metropolitan Police said their investigation shows that the increase in car theft cases is as a result of owners giving them as collateral secuirty while applying for loans.
Mwesigwa said that those who give loans use the chance to duplicate the car keys and start following the owner once the loan is fully settled. He noted that when the car is found parked any where, they easily steal it because they be having the duplicated keys, and he asked those seeking loans to take extra care.