Whole of Nigeria in search of sneaky serial phone thief snatching devices off hospital desks
Victims spread across health centres in Surulere, Ikotun in Lagos, and there was also catching the sneaky thief in action somewhere in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In Lagos alone, at least three private hospitals, especially the Mainland part, have found themselves nursing similar wounds because they have been robbed of their phones by a male serial thief who walks into an institution as if on legitimate business but ends up making away with untended devices. His last stint stealing from an on-duty nurse in the Omole Phase 1 has revealed him in the spotlight and now people are calling for his arrest.
A few video surveillance clips have been coming out on X, and his latest victim is hoping this will help apprehend him. Although the nurse, Amaka admits that she was careless about the way she lost her Android, the CCTV footage she posted on Monday 21 October helped identify others who have a similar experience.
Victims spread across health centres in Surulere, Ikotun in Lagos, and there was also catching the sneaky thief in action somewhere in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The search to find him started with Ms Amaka’s appeal to the X community, saying: I’m begging you; I need this to go viral.
According to her tweet, this guy came to my hospital at Omole Phase 1 and stole my phone. He said I should either pay him or do my worst. It’s an Android phone and I really don’t know how to track it. His video and pictures are below.
Over a couple of days after this request for help, more videos started dropping in under the posts, to raise awareness about the menace. It is for the clear deceit that the clips show him perpetrating that this man needs to be caught based on the comments that have trailed the event.
Twitter community pls I'm begging you 🙏, I need this to go viral. This guy came to my hospital at Omole Phase 1 and stole my phone. He said I should either pay him or do my worst. It's an android phone and I really don't know how to track it. He's video and pictures are below. pic.twitter.com/9DJq767hbt
— Amaka (@itsnurse_amaka) October 21, 2024
Sadly, after Monday’s tweet, there have been no positive updates concerning catching him since a formal report to the Nigeria Police Force.
The Onitsha victim identified through X as Questor resurfaces with an advisory on what not to do when dealing with the suspect. I reported to [the] police [and] even paid police for tracking and nothing has been done. This man made my life miserable. I lost so many documents and vital information.
Based on Questor’s knowledge of the pilferer’s tricks after a phone owner contacts him to retrieve the stolen device, he will allow you to call the line and ask you to pay him and opt for POS. Don’t try it – he will discard the line immediately.
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The last time a serial thief stole attention this sort of way was in November 2017 with the Crippled Thief, also a male. His calling sign was a fitting moniker because he walked with a limp, making his victims look past him as one who was vulnerable and couldn’t cause any harm.
On Thursday, November 23, 2017, at The Waterbrook Church, Victoria Island event, the crippled thief was caught and handed over to police officers. He was slammed with numerous theft-related charges.
