More than 60 ride-by thefts were reported in Addis Ababa during the first half of the current 2018-2019 Ethiopian fiscal year that started on July 8, an official at the Addis Ababa Police Commission was quoted as saying by state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) on Monday.

Warning the public to take caution against the rising trend in similar theft incidents across the main streets of Addis Ababa, police also disclosed that half the perpetrators, from the total 61 motorcycle-assisted theft incidents over the past six-month period, were caught by police.

According to victims and witnesses of similar theft incidents, many offenders travel across the city while the person behind the driver grab items out of the victims’ hands as they drive past.