Ogun car theft: 10 checks vehicle owners should make before hiring drivers

Vehicle owners have been advised to carry out 10 essential checks before employing drivers, including verifying their identity, driving credentials, references and background, following the recovery of a stolen Toyota Camry in Ifo, Ogun State.

The Ogun State Police Command gave the advice after operatives of the Ifo Division recovered the 2016 Toyota Camry from a hotel less than eight hours after it was reported stolen and arrested a suspected accomplice.

The vehicle, belonging to an Indian national based at the Ilupeju Industrial Estate, Lagos, was allegedly stolen on September 9, 2026, by a driver identified as Waidi Olaide Kolawale, who had reportedly been employed only two days earlier.

According to the police, Kolawale told his employer that he was taking the vehicle to a nearby vulcaniser to repair a faulty tyre but allegedly absconded with the car.

The vehicle was subsequently tracked electronically to the Ifo area.

Acting on the information, the Divisional Police Officer, Ifo Division, CSP Kamorudeen Olabisi, deployed surveillance and anti-robbery operatives to locate the vehicle.

The operatives tracked the vehicle through several locations before finding it at a hotel in Ifo at about 8:30pm.

The police said Kolawale fled after sighting the operatives, taking the ignition key with him, while an alleged accomplice, identified as Monday Adetunji, was arrested at the scene.

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Preliminary investigation reportedly indicated that the suspects had approached a mechanic to remove the vehicle’s catalytic converter, but the mechanic declined to participate.

The recovered vehicle has since been returned to its owner, while the police are continuing efforts to arrest the fleeing suspect and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Confirming the development, the command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, urged vehicle owners to combine trust with proper background checks when employing drivers or giving individuals access to their vehicles, homes and businesses.

He also recommended reliable vehicle-tracking devices and additional anti-theft measures, including steering locks and tyre locks.

10 checks before employing a driver

1. Verify identity: Obtain and independently verify the applicant’s full name, residential address and valid means of identification.
2. Check driving credentials: Confirm that the applicant has a valid driving licence appropriate for the vehicle he or she will operate.
3. Conduct background checks: Where lawful and possible, verify the applicant’s employment history and relevant criminal records.
4. Contact previous employers: Speak directly with former employers to establish the applicant’s work history, reliability and conduct.
5. Verify references: Independently confirm references provided by the applicant rather than relying solely on the information supplied.
6. Confirm residential address: Verify where the prospective driver lives and obtain reliable emergency contact information.
7. Sign an employment agreement: Clearly outline the driver’s responsibilities, authorised use of the vehicle and conditions of employment.
8. Install a tracking device: Equip the vehicle with a reliable GPS tracker and ensure its alerts and monitoring functions are operational.
9. Add physical security: Consider steering locks, tyre locks and other appropriate anti-theft devices as additional layers of protection.
10. Limit access initially: Newly employed drivers should not automatically receive unrestricted access to vehicles, keys, documents, premises or other valuables until adequate trust has been established through due diligence.

The police urged members of the public to remain vigilant, stressing that entrusting a person with a vehicle or other valuable property should always be accompanied by proper verification and appropriate security measures.