The Urban Security Unit of the Central Police Station of Fatick has put an end to the activities of a suspected motorcycle thief who was operating in several regions of Senegal.

The individual was brought before the Public Prosecutor at the High Court of Fatick yesterday for multiple thefts, criminal association, impersonation of a public official, fraud and various other actions.

It was the alarming increase in complaints filed by motorcycle taxi drivers that alerted the police. Faced with this surge in thefts using a similar modus operandi, investigators launched an investigation that led to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

The alleged criminal had developed a particularly elaborate method to trap his victims, exploiting their trust and the respect inspired by law enforcement:

Phase 1 - Identity theft: The suspect systematically presented himself as an agent of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS). This false identity allowed him to immediately establish a climate of trust and authority with the motorcycle taxi drivers.

Phase 2 - The credible staging: Armed with this false identity, he would ask drivers to take him to a gendarmerie brigade or a police station. To justify this destination, he would cite plausible professional reasons: retrieving his service weapon left at the station or delivering an urgent administrative letter.

Phase 3 - The final scam: Upon arriving near the administrative offices, when the victims' vigilance was at its lowest, he managed to obtain the motorcycle keys under a false pretext. Once he had the keys, he disappeared for good with the vehicle, leaving the drivers bewildered.

The suspect's arrest prompted a wave of victims to speak out. No fewer than ten came forward voluntarily to the Fatick Central Police Station to file complaints and formally identify the individual. These converging testimonies confirmed the extent of the accused's criminal activities.

Faced with overwhelming testimony and the evidence gathered, the suspect confessed during his interrogations. He admitted to almost all of the robberies he is accused of, not only in Fatick, but also in the cities of Kaolack and Dakar, thus revealing the geographical extent of his crimes.

Moreover, his statements revealed the existence of a veritable organized network for receiving stolen goods. The stolen motorcycles were not kept, but quickly resold in other parts of the country with the complicity of an accomplice. This accomplice, identified by investigators, is currently on the run. Law enforcement has issued a warrant for his arrest and is actively pursuing its investigation to locate and apprehend him.

During the arrest operation, investigators conducted a search which led to the seizure of several important pieces of evidence:

Numerous SIM cards: These multiple phone cards were likely used to cover their tracks and complicate any attempt by the police to trace the individual.

Two mobile phones: These devices are currently undergoing technical analysis which could reveal contacts with other accomplices, additional victims or buyers of stolen motorcycles.