By Suoyo Ekubo
Operatives of the Bayelsa State Vigilante Service have arrested a 40-year-old male suspected pickpocket who operates with a tricycle to snatch valuables from commuters.
It was gathered that the suspect, one Thankgod Godwin, a tricycle driver who hails from Oghara in Delta State was arrested on Monday by operatives of the Bayelsa State Vigilante Service stationed at the popular Tombia-Etegwe roundabout in Yenagoa.
According to the State Vigilante Chairman, Hon. Doubiye Alagba, the suspect was arrested after he was identified and trailed by one of his victims.
“The suspect and his accomplice, one Keme, popularly known as Lion who is now at large and resides in Biogbolo are specialists in pickpocketing using tricycle (Keke).
“Luck ran out of them this morning when they were identified by a victim they allegedly stole from last week Thursday. He was arrested and his tricycle was burnt by an angry mob,” he said.
Alagba further disclosed that the suspect confessed that he has been in the business of pickpocketing for months after learning the illegal business from his accomplice.
His victim, Mr. Stanley Egwe while narrating his ordeal, stated that “last week Thursday, along the Alamieyeseigha expressway I entered their Keke. He was the driver and his accomplice sat beside me.
“He agreed to drop me at Akenpai junction but I was surprised when he stopped halfway and said he is not going anymore and that I should come down. I did not know that his accomplice sitting beside me had already stolen my phone.
“This morning, while on my way to work, I saw these same two boys inside the same tricycle. I immediately followed them with another tricycle thinking when we get to Tombia roundabout, I will see a police van at the junction and raise an alarm.
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“We got to the junction and there was no police van and I immediately ran into their vehicle and raise alarm. The Bayelsa State Vigilante members stationed there quickly came to my rescue and one of them escaped and the driver was caught.”
Four stolen phones and cash were recovered from the suspect. He has since been handed over to the police for further investigation.
[Mangrovepen]
