An overnight car theft was recorded on Akinola Street in the Bariga area of Lagos on Tuesday morning, raising fresh security concerns among residents of the community.
The vehicle, a Toyota Camry, was reportedly stolen from where it was parked by its owner the previous night. According to residents, the yet-to-be-identified criminals are believed to have used a master key to gain access to the car before driving it away.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the suspects may have timed the operation to coincide with the closing hours of the local security guards who keep overnight watch in the area. The theft was discovered shortly before 7 a.m.
Residents expressed surprise at the incident, noting that cases of car theft and vandalisation had significantly reduced since the reorganisation and review of the community’s security architecture by the Akinola Phase One Community Security Committee. Before the new measures, such crimes were said to be rampant in the area.
Some residents, however, observed that criminal elements appear to have recently shifted their operations toward parts of Bariga, raising fears of a resurgence of vehicle-related crimes.
Members of the public who may have useful information that could lead to the recovery of the stolen Toyota Camry are urged to contact the following numbers: 0803 248 7157, 0802 054 4411, 0810 177 8550, or 0805 789 0453.