The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday arrested an 18-year-old pickpocket, Seun Jimoh at Oshodi, Lagos.
According to the police, Jimoh was caught while removing some money from a commuters’ pocket.
“The suspect, who was decked in brown jacket and trousers, and a hand bag like a business executive, before his arrest, had already stolen four mobile phones from unsuspecting commuters in an early morning rush in the area,” the police said in a statement on Wednesday.
The police said two of his victims who suspected he was with their phones, were watching him.
“While standing at Oshodi under Bridge, they spotted him removing money from the pocket of a passenger, Gbenga Odeniyi.
“At that point, his earlier victims, Onuh Austine and Onesimus Paul, raised an alarm, which made Jimoh to promptly drop the money and take to his heels but RRS (Rapid Response Squad) operatives close to the scene chased and caught him,” the police said.
The statement also said the suspect was found with the phones of the two victims who helped nab him.
Jimoh said he steals more phones on Mondays and Fridays.
“I (steal) an average of eight phones on Mondays and maybe like nine phones on Fridays. I don’t really get more than five phones on Wednesdays,” he was quoted as saying.
He also said he is a natural pickpocket who never trained or practiced for it.
“All the phones that I stole, I sell them in Alaba Rago to some Hausas. They buy fairly used phones and materials from people. I have been in this business since 2013. I have never been caught or imprisoned before.”
“Nobody needs to train you on how to pickpocket. It is so easy and the idea came naturally to me. You can do it but you do the easy ones.
“I get to Oshodi by 6:30 a.m. and I leave after operations around 9:00 a.m. I sell Nokia Microsoft N7, 000; Infinix Hot N8,000; Tecno Y series, N7,000 – N9,000; and small Samsung phones N4, 000.”
Confirming the arrest, Dolapo Badmus, the State Police Public Relations Officer said his accomplices were already being tracked.
“The suspect has given information that would help track down his colleagues in the same trade as well as stolen phone buyers,” she said.
