New Driver Steals Employer's Car Days After Joining, Accomplice Caught

A driver reportedly took his employer’s 2016 Toyota Camry just two days after he got the job. Police in Ogun State found the car at a hotel in Ifo within eight hours of the theft.

The driver, Waidi Olajide Kolawole, ran away when police from the Ifo Division arrived at the hotel where they discovered the vehicle. His companion, Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene.

The car belonged to an Indian national working at the Ilupeju Industrial Estate in Lagos. Kolawole allegedly stole the vehicle on September 9, 2026, after telling his employer he would take it to a vulcaniser to fix a flat tyre. Instead, he drove off with the car.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, shared this information in a statement to reporters on Sunday.

Babaseyi explained that the car was tracked electronically to the Ifo area after the owner reported it stolen. He said the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, received the report and sent out surveillance and anti-robbery teams to follow up.

Babaseyi added, "After the report, the vehicle was electronically tracked to the Ifo area. The DPO, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, quickly analyzed the information and deployed teams to find the vehicle."

He continued, "The operatives tracked the car through different locations before finding it at a hotel in Ifo around 8:30 PM. When they saw the police, Kolawole ran away with the ignition key, but Monday Adetunji was caught."

Initial investigations showed that the suspects had asked a mechanic to take off the vehicle’s catalytic converter, but the mechanic refused.

Police said they have secured the recovered vehicle and are working to catch the escaped driver. They also want to find out more details about the alleged theft.

The state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the police for their quick actions in recovering the car. He commended their skill, alertness, and smart use of information to locate the vehicle.

Ojajuni assured the public that the police will keep working to protect lives and property in the state.

The police advised vehicle owners to install reliable tracking devices and use extra security measures like steering and tyre locks. They also encouraged the public to be careful when giving access to vehicles, homes, or businesses, stressing the need to do proper checks.

Additionally, the police urged hotel owners to improve checks on guests and vehicles, keep accurate records, and report any suspicious people or activities quickly.