Car Wash Attendant in Lagos Caught Stealing Customer's Vehicle

A car wash attendant in the Alausa area of Lagos State has been arrested after fleeing with a customer’s vehicle. The suspect was tracked down and apprehended in Sagamu, Ogun State, by detectives from the Alausa Police Division, who also recovered the stolen vehicle.

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He advised vehicle owners to remain vigilant, stating, “A car wash attendant in Alausa ran away with a customer’s vehicle. Detectives of the Alausa Police Division arrested him with the vehicle in Sagamu. Be security conscious always.”

Car Snatching Syndicate Busted in Lekki

In a separate operation, officers from the Ilasan Division arrested five suspected members of a car-snatching syndicate, along with the buyer of a stolen vehicle.

According to Hundeyin, the arrest followed a report filed on August 1 by a taxi driver who said three passengers had turned on him after booking a ride in the Lekki area. During the trip, one of the suspects allegedly brandished a locally made pistol and forced the driver out before escaping with his black Toyota Corolla.

“On August 1, 2025, a taxi driver reported that three men, who had ordered his services along Platinum Way, Jakande, Lekki, boarded his black Toyota Corolla. During the trip, one of the suspects pointed a locally made pistol at him and kicked him out of the vehicle while the syndicate members fled with his vehicle,” the statement read.

Following investigations, the police arrested five suspects:

• Favour Sunday, 25

• Ikot Moses, 28

• Dickson Ighobue Harrison, 35

• Joshua Adedamola, 27

• Daniel Jonathan, 26

Further investigations revealed that the stolen vehicle was sold for ₦500,000 to one Wasiu Arinola, 40, who allegedly dismantled the car and sold the parts in Ibadan before his arrest.

The police are currently working to recover the weapon used in the robbery and trace other vehicles possibly stolen and sold by the syndicate.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring the safety of residents and visitors in the state. He urged the public to continue providing useful information to the police to aid timely interventions.