Police in the City of Kigali have recovered 55 new mobile phones and their accessories stolen from a businesswoman in Rubavu District, on Saturday.

The handsets and the accessories that include 55 chargers and 56 batteries were recovered over the weekend from two suspected thieves identified as Patrick Ndikuryayo and Amza Gasigwa, in Nyabugogo bus terminal.

Ndikuryayo, is said to have earlier that day, entered one of the buses in Rubavu taxi park posing as a passenger. This is when he stole the bag that contained the phones and their accessories, after the owner had moved out to run an errand. Supt. Emmanuel Hitayezu, Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said: "Aware of the theft that had happened in Rubavu, police officers in Nyabugogo remained on alert because we had information that the suspected thief was headed to Kigali.”

"Police officers continued monitoring some of the passengers including Ndikuryayo, who were disembarking from buses that were coming from Rubavu, and at about 6:30pm, they zeroed down to Ndikuryayo, checked his luggage and found all the electronics. He was immediately arrested together his accomplice – Gasigwa – as they were looking for the buyer,” Supt. Hitayezu said.

In a related development, security night patrols in Muhanga District apprehended one Pacifique Iradukunda after he allegedly snatched a bag containing a computer laptop and a mobile phone, from one Scolastique Muhawenimana.

The recovered electronics in the two separate incidents were returned to the rightful owners.

Supt. Hitayezu said that "community policing has made it hard for criminals to escape justice.”

He noted the coordination and collaboration between Police, the general public and other stakeholders continue to play a vital part in safety and security, and effectively responding to crime.

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