The Ogun State Police Command has recovered a stolen 2016 Toyota Camry at a hotel in Ifo, less than eight hours after it was reported stolen.
The vehicle, belonging to an Indian national based at the Ilupeju Industrial Estate, Lagos, was allegedly stolen on Wednesday by his driver, Waidi Olaide Kolawale, who was employed two days earlier.
Kolawale had reportedly told his employer that he was taking the car to a vulcaniser to fix a tyre but absconded with it.
Following the report, the car was electronically tracked to the Ifo area and the information was relayed to the DPO, Ifo Division, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, who deployed surveillance and anti-robbery operatives.
The operatives tracked the vehicle through several locations before locating it at a hotel in Ifo at about 8:30 p.m.
In a statement made available to our reporter on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the driver, Kolawale, fled on sighting the operatives, while one suspect, Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene.
Babaseyi stated that preliminary investigation showed the suspects had allegedly approached a mechanic to remove the vehicle’s catalytic converter, but the mechanic declined.
“The vehicle has been secured, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident,” the PPRO added.
The spokesperson said the swift recovery demonstrates the Command’s technology-driven and intelligence-led approach to policing.
He quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, as commending the Ifo operatives for their swift response and urging vehicle owners to install reliable trackers and anti-theft devices.
He also advised the public to conduct due diligence before entrusting vehicles to drivers and urged hoteliers to maintain accurate guest records and report suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line.
