Car snatchers target Toyota, Honda

Do you have a Toyota Camry Car? May be even Toyota Corolla and Hondo Accord cars? Well, if you do, better be more vigilant where your cars are concerned because security report reveals that criminals are now in love with these brands of cars.

The Lagos State Police statistics for January to December 2012 shows that about 1,314 cars were officially reported stolen. This means that those not reported may triple the reported cases.

In this statistics, Toyota Camry cars have been identified as the cars frequently targeted and stolen by criminals.

This is followed closely by Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord. Some of these vehicles were removed from worship centres.

Senior police officers in the command are presently working round the clock to know why these criminals target these sets of cars and to ensure that the occurrence are curtailed.

Meanwhile, the statistics further showed that between that January to December, 980 of the stolen vehicles were recovered.  About 729 were apparently snatched at gun points, while 577 were removed from the spots the owners parked them. About eight cars were driven away by the drivers who were employed by the owner.

Speaking with the Daily Newswatch on this statistics, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Prince Umar Manko urged Nigerians, especially Lagosians, to be security conscious where their cars are concerned.

According to him, in as much as it’s the duty of the police to protect lives and property, police cannot however, be at every nooks and cranny of the state.

His words: “If you noticed, you said they were removed from where they were parked.  There is no way police can be all over the place at the same time. Accepted that the duty of the police is for security, among other duties,  but then you cannot attach the police to where vehicles are parked individually. Therefore, the owners of these vehicles must find a way of securing their properties.

“Sometimes owners of these vehicles go to parties, some to the extent of getting themselves drunk; by the time they come out, they will just come down from the vehicle, shut the door and go in. Some don’t even remember to remove the keys from the ignition.

“Some parked carelessly without taking into cognizance that somebody might  be watching, monitoring them. Such carelessness is just as good as if you’re giving out the car as a gift to the criminals!

“Owners of these vehicles should device means of securing their properties. We have so many security devices that one can attach to these vehicles. Some of them, if you touch the vehicle, will make a loud noise. Owners of these vehicles should be more conscious of where these vehicles are parked. They should be more conscious of how they park them.”

 He suggested that car owners should always be alert, rather than getting drunk, when they know they may be driving. He stressed that a drunk driver, is a careless one, who may come out the next morning to discover that his car had disappeared. “If you look at the time some of these vehicles are removed, it is always between the hours of 2am- 3am,” said Manko. “Most of them are also removed in worship places, mosque and churches. Car owners should be security conscious while police will also do their bit.”

A Chief Superintendent of Police, who spoke with the Daily Newswatch on condition of anonymity, explained that robbers go for cars that easily sell in the market.

His words: “These robbers go for cars for which they know have a ready market. I think the Law realises this and this may be responsible for the stiffer penalty for receiving stolen property than stealing. No buyer, no thief!”

An Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), has this to say: “Toyota products have good second hand value, especially in the Southwest and far North. You can still sell them at a fair price even after you’ve used the cars for year. Sometimes stolen Toyota cars are shipped to Europe and Asia and sold cheaply too. Car theft is an International ring where Japanese cars are in hot demand.”

Mr. Olayemi Ogundola, a car dealer agrees with the ACP, adding that the ruggedness of the cars; make them attractive to criminals, who apparently have noses and eyes for good cars which would sell fast in the market. “Moreover, the parts are everywhere! This is one of the major factors that make car thieves to go after Toyota cars. An average car owner wants a car which would be easy to maintain,” said Ogundola.

An Inspector of Police, who had covered the anti-robbery beat for years, said: “The parts of Toyota products are not just accessible in the market, but are also quite cheap! This makes the demand for such cars very high. It also has what I call fuel economy. With just half tank, you can go as far as to Onitsha from Lagos.

“Owners of such cars should be vigilant and security conscious. They should take out insurance policy on their cars. They should avoid early morning and late driving if possible. But most importantly, they should install tracking devices in their cars.”