The Rwanda National Police has arrested three men in Nyakagezi Village, Rudashya Cell, Ndera Sector, following a days-long manhunt over the theft of bicycle parts from a warehouse in Masaka known as Dubai Port.
According to police reports, the suspects stole eight boxes filled with bicycle components and had been hiding in their homes, believing they had escaped detection.
Law enforcement officers, acting on intelligence, tracked and arrested them at their residences.
“They thought no one had noticed them, but we were on their trail,” said Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Wellars Gahonzire, the Police Spokesperson for the City of Kigali.
In a separate operation, four other suspects were apprehended in Rutunga Sector, also in Gasabo District, accused of stealing household items from neighboring homes.
Police say the suspects broke into houses during the night while residents were sleeping.
The four, described as young men, were caught in Kabariza Village, Kabariza Cell, allegedly armed with sharp objects used to threaten anyone who might try to resist them.
All suspects are currently being held at Ndera and Rutunga Police Stations as investigations continue.
Rwanda National Police has condemned the acts, warning that theft is not only illegal but also self-destructive. “Whoever believes they can make a living by stealing is mistaken,” CIP Gahonzire said. “They will be caught, jailed, and their progress in life will stall.”
The police also praised residents who report suspicious behavior in their communities, saying such cooperation is critical in preventing crime and ensuring safety.
According to recent reports, theft and assault remain among the most frequently reported crimes committed by youths.
Authorities have expressed concern that the youth are increasingly involved in these offenses, contributing to the high number of theft and assault-related convictions in the country’s prisons.
