“I love stealing Toyota cars” – Robbery suspect confesses

43-year-old man, Lukman Bello, who was arrested by the police in Lagos State for alleged forgery, conspiracy and car theft, said he loves stealing Toyota cars because the brand can be sold easily.

 Lukman has been on the police wanted list since 2007 but luck ran out on him following a tip-off, which led to his arrest by policemen attached to the Pedro Police station in Bariga area of the state recently.

The police source stated that Lukman stole the cars from car marts with a master key, which he used to open the cars and zoom off when no one is watching.

The police added that they recovered seven fairly-used vehicles popularly known as Tokunbo cars from the suspect. These include five Toyota Camry cars, one Toyota Corolla car and a Nissan bus.

“I usually go for Toyota cars because you can sell them fast and people ask for them”- Lukman

Lukman has since been charged to the Yaba Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and theft.

Here’s Lukman’s confession:

“I am a married man with two wives and four children. I used to be a refrigerator repairer but the money I earned was not enough to cater for my family. I went into stealing cars when I saw how careless the car sellers are. I usually go for Toyota cars because you can sell them fast and people ask for them. What I was doing was that I monitored anywhere they are selling cars and when I saw that they have closed for the day, I will go to the spots where the cars are kept around 8pm- 10pm and use a master key to drive a car out of the mart.  I could do that because I make use of (juju) charm.

“I have been doing this since 2007. I move about with fuel in a jerry -can so I do not have to stop at a filling station. I move about from 4am to 6am to avoid being caught. Oke John is a regular receiver of my stolen cars. He comes from Port Harcourt to buy the cars.  I have lost counts of the number of cars I stole. I stole cars because I needed money to train my children.

I was duped and I had nothing so I had to survive (sic),” Lukman confessed.