The Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Fatai Owoseni, on Friday advised the public to always profile their domestic workers with the police before employing them.
Owoseni gave the advice following the police arrest of a notorious criminal with three others who allegedly specialised in parading themselves as drivers or security guards.
The CP said from investigations by the police, it was discovered that these tricksters used to abscond with their employer’s properties after employment.
Owoseni, explaining the antics of the suspects, said that some get themselves employed to private security agencies and also choose where to serve.
This was to afford them monitor and give information about their unsuspecting victims to their group members.
“These syndicates advertise themselves as drivers and in some cases, in connivance with house guards where they work later cart away their employers’ properties.
The CP said that a suspect, James Jacob, was once paraded and arraigned for allegedly raping a house help and stealing his boss car but got bailed.
“A Hyundai jeep was recovered from the suspect and he confessed to have stolen five other cars.’’
Owoseni said that if James Jacob had been brought for profiling, he would have been exposed.
“The command is urging the public on the need to take to the advisory of profiling and vetting of domestic servants they employ.
“By doing this, they secure themselves, protect valuables and assist the police in managing crime and reducing it to a minimum level in the state.
“Due to the rate at which domestic workers get involved in criminality, we have always advised that members of the public should not see it as a burden to bring their domestic workers for profiling before employment.
“Investigations also revealed that some suspected kidnappers get employed to private security agencies and also choose where to serve so as to monitor their victims,’’ he said.
(NAN)
