A 35-year-old man, Usman Ali of Nay Nawa ward in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, has been arrested by the state police command over theft.
Ali, according to the police, specializes in stealing mobile phones, jewellery and other valuables.
A statement from ASP Abdulkarim Dugus, the state command public relations officer, Ali was intercepted and arrested by detectives of the Crack Squad Unit after responding to a distress call from the ward head of Marfa-Kallam village in Damaturu, where over four houses were burgled and many valuables carted away overnight.
The statement said that the culprit intruded into victims’ houses at night while sleeping to cart away valuables ranging from cell phones, TV sets, money, jewellery and any valuables of the victims.
“The culprit most often patronises Indomie Joins, Tea sellers spot or hang around with friends in the target areas of crimes to observe the movement of people and other security measures and when it is getting dark in the evening they hibernate in some secluded location and come out at midnight to perpetrate their heinous activities.
“They usually operate within the hours of 2:00 am to 3:00 am. They sneak quietly into houses with doors, windows or penetrable openings,” the statement read.
During police interrogation, the culprit denied the use of any charm or talisman on his victims to put them in deep sleep in order to perfect his act, saying he only operates while they are fast asleep.
He also claimed that so far he stole over 200 cell phones which he sold at a paltry price of at least N800 each.
The statement said, “The Command has been trailing the culprit and other syndicates members for a short while now, adding that Usman Ali is one of the most wanted in the list”.
The statement further said the case is currently under investigation while efforts are on to arrest other fleeing syndicate members