CITY NEWS Car thieves mobbed at Jabi

An angry mob yesterday beat up suspected car thieves while they were trying to steal a vehicle in Jabi area of the city.

The suspects who were rescued by police officers sustained injuries after the mob used several items including sticks, iron rods and cables to beat up the suspects.

The incident happened on P. O. W Mafemi Crescent at about 11am.

A resident, who simply identified himself as Ola said the suspects had already used a master key to gain access to a Hyundai SUV parked by the roadside before the owner raised alarm.

He said it was surprising that the suspects could attempt such an act in a busy place at broad daylight.

He said one of the suspects opened the vehicle parked not far from a car wash on the street and entered before the other suspect who was watching from behind jumped into the car and were about driving off before the owner raised alarm.

“They drove off but we all took our vehicles and pursued them before we caught up with them along Augustus Aikhomu Way,” he said.

He said the suspects were driven back to the spot where the car was stolen when a a crowd that had already gathered in the area.

He said the mob action was fueled by the high number of vehicles stolen in the area.

The suspects were bleeding and their clothes torn before police officers arrived and whisked them away in their patrol van.

The DPO of the Utako Police Division, Mr Sani Omolori Aliyu, said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the police concluded their investigations.

The suspects, Solomon Bena and Vitalis Enan, masons, said they did not have a specific place of residence in Abuja but sleep in construction sites where they usually work.

They claimed they were coming from a construction site where they work when they saw the phones inside and unlocked vehicle.

They told City News that their intent was not to steal the car but the handsets kept inside the car.