23 murders in the last 2 months ; numberplate thefts before murders

23 murders have been recorded in the last 02 months due to organised crime in many areas including the Western Province.

Police say that men on vehicles and bikes with stolen number plates have committed these crimes and special intelligence teams are conducting investigations.

Police add that they have received many complaints of bike number plates being stolen from the police divisions of Galle, Tissamaharama, Ahungalla and Kataragama.

These stolen number plates were used for vehicles used in the aforementioned murders, reports add.

Therefore, police urge the public to immediately report such thefts.