By Ifeanyi Okoli

Two suspects who are members of a notorious syndicate which specialized in stealing mobile phones, Laptops and video cameras, from journalists and guests at event centers across Lagos State, have been arrested by the police. The suspects who were identified as Augustin Joseph and George Ijie, were rounded recently by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, after one of them stole a mobile phone belonging to a reporter during an event at Victoria Island area of the State.

Suspects

Vanguard gathered that the suspects who would attend events across the state, pretending to be journalists or invited guests, adopted several method to dispossess their victims such as exchanging empty bags with those of journalists and guests at event centers containing laptops and video cameras. They were also said to have stolen mobile phones from tables at event centers the moment the owners were not paying attention. They equally stole some mobile phones from where they were plugged for charging during events, while in some other cases, they disappeared with people’s phone during photo sessions at the events.

Police sources disclosed that Joseph, who stole the reporter’s phone this year while she was charging it at the event was picked up by the police after the reporter lodged a complaint against him with the police while the IRT led by ACP Abba Kyari,was drafted in to investigate the matter. The CCTV footage of him stealing the phone and leaving the event center was obtained by the IRT and the phone was also tracked to one of his buyers at the computer village Ikeja. The buyer was arrested and he was used in luring Joseph out from hiding.

Vanguard learned further that Joseph confessed to the crime but claimed that he wasn’t the only one involved in the crime. He thereafter volunteered information which led to the arrest of his colleague, George Ijie, who he said was also a buyer and a specialist in stealing video cameras and laptops from event centers across the state.

When interviewed, 38-year-old Joseph, who is a native of Aniocha South area of Delta State told Vanguard that he went into stealing after losing his job as a staff of a construction company in Lagos. Joseph who said he came to Lagos in 2009 confessed that he started stealing phones from event centers in 2013.

His confession

“I am married with two children, I am staying with my sister at her residence in Ikoyi, off Bourdillon. I came to Lagos in 2009 and worked in hotel at Ajao Estate for a while. I left and worked in a construction company but lost my job in the year 2013 and I couldn’t secure another job. Based on the experience I had as a waiter while working in a hotel, I started attending conferences and would pretend to be one of the waiters at the event. I then used the opportunity to steal phones from guests at the events. I was also stealing expensive wines that were used to decorate the high table after the event and I would sell them.

When the organizers started observing me, I then switched and would pretend to be a journalist. I operate alone but there are so many other people doing the same thing. In most events, even before I operate, there could be an announcement that a phone had been stolen and people should be careful. I usually leave such venue so that I wouldn’t get caught. I used several tactics in stealing phones from people at events centers. I usually approach people while they are snapping photos and would offer to help them snap their photos and before they knew it I would disappear into the crowd with their phones.

I also used to approach people in conferences with my charger. I would ask them if they want to charger their phones and believing I was one of them, they would give me their phone to charge for them and before they knew what was happening, I would leave the venue with their phone. I have stolen many phones using this tactic and I can’t count the number of phones I have stolen. I get information about these conferences on social media and on Facebook. I stole the phone that led me into trouble on the 31st of March 2017. It was an annual color conference which was advertised on Facebook, Instagram, tweeter and Bright Event. On that day at the Victoria Island, I was with my charger and this lady approached me and asked if I could help her charge her phone and I said yes and took the phone from her but disappeared with the phone. The phone is a Samsung Galaxy S6, it has a broken screen in front and back. I spent 25,000 in repairing it and I sold it for N35000 before I was arrested. The person who bought the phone was tracked and arrested and he led the police to me”.

Joseph’s colleague, George Ikemefuna Ijie, 49, who hails from Oguachukwu, Delta State, told Vanguard that his syndicate succeeded in its exploits because most of their victims were usually careless. He added that even after several announcements and warnings from organizers of an event for participants to be careful with their bags and other valuables; “people are still careless. They would leave their laptops carelessly and when I or any other person who came to that event to steal saw it we would go after it.” In his confession Ijie said; “I reside in Ejigbo area of Lagos State and have a registered company known as Systems X Limited and we repair laptops. I was arrested because I was dealing with Austin who I met through one Aliyu three years ago. I have bought a stolen laptop from Austin. I have also stolen laptops at press conferences and seminars across Lagos State.

I also stole cameras from these events. I stole over three cameras which I sold for N40,000 each and I have stolen over 40 laptops for N40,000 and above. I was arrested in April, after I stole a laptop that belongs to Mr Moruf Aregbeshola. I left the venue immediately but the CCTV cameras caught me leaving the venue with the laptop and I was tracked an arrested. Three laptops were eventually recovered from me and I was later charged to court. I was granted bail and when I came out I stopped the business. Two weeks ago I received a call from Austin who is a member of our syndicate and he told me that he has a laptop to sell. I was arrested when I went to receive the laptop from him”, he lamented.