Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a serial burglar who blamed poverty for his actions, explaining that it was the reason that he moved out of his parent’s home.
Joseph David, 20, was arrested in Ikeja at about 4.40 a.m., Saturday, after he had successfully burgled two flats in Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja, where he allegedly stole three laptops and five mobile phones.
The police said in a statement, Sunday, that Mr. David was returning to his hotel (name withheld) at the Dopemu area where he had been lodging for over a month when he was arrested.
“I was returning to the hotel when I was accosted on Awolowo Way by RRS operatives and they stopped to check my bag,” Mr. David, who hails from Ekpoma, Edo State, said in his confessional statement to the police.
“They found one Mac laptop; two HP laptops, two iPhone 5; one blackberry classic and two Nokia Touch phones.
“The house I broke into is a two storey building behind Jabita Hotel in Balogun, Ikeja. I scaled its fence around 3:00 a.m. and I finished the operation around 4:00 a.m.”
Mr. David said he had broken into other houses in the Balogun area in the past, and had stolen handsets and laptops.
He also said he pays N240, 000 monthly to service his hotel bills.
“I am into ‘yahoo yahoo’ but money has not been forthcoming like before. I could barely make N100, 000 and N50, 000 like before. That is why I used break in and steal to augment my earning. “I stay in the hotel with my girlfriend and a couple of friends come around. Benjamin is the only buyer that I have. I have been an embarrassment to my parents.” The police said investigations revealed that there had been repeated cases of burglary around Gbajobi Street, Balogun, Ikeja.
Benjamin Odinaka, a phone repairer at the Computer Village in Ikeja, who was also arrested by the police said he usually buys phones and laptops from Mr. David at the latter’s hotel rooms.
“This is the third time that I would be buying laptops and phones from him,” said Mr. Odinaka, 18.
“I have bought more than seven laptops and several phones. The last time I bought a Mac laptop, an HP laptop, an iphone 5 and a blackberry phone from him.”
A resident of Gbajobi Street whose belongings were stolen said burglary had been on the rise in the area.
”Daily, we hear report of burglars in houses around us. We don’t know this guy and we have not met him before,” said the resident who identified himself simply as Daniel.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, the Lagos State Police Command would continue to work hard to ensure the successes recorded so far in the area of security is consolidated and improved upon.
The suspects have been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SAS) for more investigation.
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