Police have warned the public to be aware of criminals conspiring with taxi operators with fake number plates to rob the public.
Police say they have received several complaints from the public of drivers and conductors conniving with female criminals to steal valuables like cash, mobile phones, jewelry, and ATM cards from passengers who have unknowingly boarded the vehicles.
Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga told journalists at the Police Headquarters in Naguru on Monday that the criminals have been identified along sections that feed into the Kampala Northern bypass from Busega to Namboole.
He explains that unsuspecting passengers board the taxis, with criminals disguised as passengers. The victims are attacked in the moving vehicle and forced to surrender their items.
He says the criminals later throw out their victims from the moving taxi, exposing some to injuries. He adds that victims have been raped, robbed, and seriously injured after boarding taxis operated by taxi gangs.
“They push, throw or bundle them out of the moving taxi, onto the tarmac or side of the road. We strongly condemn these acts of impunity by taxi gangs. Police are already gathering intelligence about these criminal taxi gangs that are hiring female accomplices to disguise as passengers and also using fake number plates that they remove after every mission.” he says
Enanga has advised the public to always check the number plates of taxis and ensure they board from a gazetted stage. He has also advised the public to always have emergency numbers to call especially if the taxi is heading in the wrong direction.
