Thief arrested locked inside victim’s car

A thief who used a master key to open a parked car, was arrested the after he mistakenly locked himself

The suspect, Jamiu Anisoro, was arrested by detectives attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSRAS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, after he had used with an iron rod, sharpened and shaped into a key, to open the car parked on the premises of the Mainland Hotel, Oyingbo, Oto Railway, Ebute-Metta, and got trapped inside, leading to his arrest.

It was when the car owner came out and saw Anisoro inside his car that he alerted the police. On how he locked himself inside the car, police detectives said that although the improvised key can opened many car boots and doors, it, however, had a clause and once it has opened a door, the door would become faulty. The master or normal key wouldn’t be able to operate the door again.

“Anisoro specialises in opening vehicles with a master key. He got a rod and sharpened it into the shape of a key. His modus operandi is to watch motorists coming to Oyingbo Market. After the person parks, he would find out where the person is going.

He monitors where the person is heading. He would go back to where the victim’s car is parked. But before heading to the targeted car, he would carry two bags, filled with used papers. He would use the master key to open the car door, pretending to be the owner or driver. He would pick phones, money and other valuables.

He would drop the bags filled with old newspaper into the car and leaves. People watching him would think he came to drop some items he bought inside his car; they wouldn’t know he is a burglar.

There was a time he saw a nylon inside a car at Ido, Oyingbo. The nylon was under the seat of a car he burgled. He found N150,000. He used the money to rent a house. He used the balance to buy tools for cobbling. He wanted to start cobbling which was his professional job,” the police source said.

The suspect also confessed to the police that he targeted victims in the morning and evening, saying usually steal phones, wallets and other valuables inside parked vehicles. He added that he sells such stolen items at the Computer Village, Ikeja.