A 59‑year‑old resident of Yakkala has been arrested by the Western Province North Crimes Division in connection with an organized vehicle robbery racket, Police said.

The arrest follows a complaint lodged on July 10, when a man reported that a van he had purchased for Rs. 4 million was forcibly taken by an armed group. 

Investigations revealed that nearly ten individuals, including the owner of a vehicle sales outlet in Balummahara, Mudungoda, were linked to the crime.

Police investigations uncovered that the suspects had been posting advertisements on Facebook to sell vehicles. 

After completing sales, they allegedly trailed buyers and robbed the vehicles in an organized manner. Several suspects, including the vehicle sales owner, have fled the area.

During a search at a vehicle sales outlet in Kalagedihena, Nittambuwa, officers seized two swords, two pistol magazines, three live rounds, and a jeep.

Authorities confirmed that complaints have also been received regarding two other robberies carried out in a similar fashion.

The arrested suspect was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court on July 14 and was remanded until July 16. 

The Western Province North Crimes Division is continuing further investigations. (Newswire)

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Four suspects have been arrested over the robbery of three luxury SUVs and a van valued at Rs. 77 million from a car dealership in the Kengalla area in Theldeniya yesterday.

The Police stated that the suspects had stolen the vehicles after threatening and tying up two employees of the car dealership.

Police investigations launched into a complaint filed on the robbery had led to the arrest of three suspects in the Dhoragamuwa area in Wattegama.

The Police had seized two of the stolen luxury SUVs and a pickup truck used for the robbery from the garage of a house in the Dhoragamuwa area.

Based on a tip-off, the Police also arrested another suspect from the Pannila area in Nittambuwa along with one stolen luxury SUV.

The suspects arrested in Wattegama are aged 27, 32, and 34 years and are residents of the Gunnepana, Dhoragamuwa, and Rajawella areas, while the suspect arrested in Nittambuwa is a 28-year-old resident of Wathupitiwala. 

The Police stated that the suspects will be produced before the Theldeniya Magistrate’s Court today. (NewsWire)

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Two suspects have been arrested over the robbery of a vehicle that was reported missing from the Thalawathugoda area on May 27.

The Police stated that the Thalangama Police had apprehended the two suspects based on a tip-off yesterday.

The stolen vehicle had been recovered by the Police, while another vehicle used to carry out the robbery, two mobile phones, a number of SIM cards, and equipment used to unlock the vehicle had been seized from the suspects’ possession.

The Police stated that the arrested suspects are residents of the Thihagoda and Kaduwela areas aged 32 and 39 years.

The suspects will be produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court today. (NewsWire)

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