Police in Nyagatare District have arrested three men in Mimuli Sector suspected to be behind series of house break-ins and stealing solar energy batteries from connected homes in the area.

The trio arrested on Monday, March 22, is Obama Nzabonimana, Jean de Dieu Muhire and Noah Kwizera.

Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Hamdun Twizeyimana, the Police spokesperson for the Eastern region, said the three suspects had already stolen three solar batteries.

He added that residents first reported Muhire and Kwizera after they were spotted breaking into the house of one Jeannine Uwumubano, where they stole a solar battery.

“Following their arrest with the battery stolen from Uwumubano’s house, Muhire and Kwizera disclosed that they had already stolen three batteries from three different homes. Two other batteries, they disclosed, were stolen from the homes of Leonard Habimana and Samuel Ntamuhanga,” CIP Twizeyimana said.

The suspects narrated that they were breaking into houses through the window especially during the day when there is no one at home.

They further disclosed that they were selling the batteries to Obama Nzabonimana for Frw10,000, each.

Nzabonimana was later arrested with two other batteries stolen from the homes of Habimana and Ntamuhanga.

The suspects were handed over to RIB at Mimuli station.

The theft led to power outage in the affected homes leading to use of candles.

The spokesperson advised the young people to “take hands out of pockets and work” rather than wasting their lives in criminal practices leading to their arrest and imprisonment.

Under article 166 of the law relating to offences and penalties in general, any person convicted for theft is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than two years and a fine of between Frw1 million and Frw2 million, a community service for a period of six months or only one of these penalties.

Source: RNP