By Brave Dickson
Some alleged members of a syndicate who specialize in snatching phones from unsuspecting public in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital are now standing trial in court.
Arresting the gang of phone thieves were said to have been very difficult until trackers were deployed to apprehend them.
Shortly after the matter was adjourned by Chief Magistrate Nneka Eze Obuzor for further cross-examination, the prosecutor of the case, Inspector Aaron Nsirem told our correspondent how the defendants were tracked and brought to court.
The prosecutor said: “Today the 24th day of February 2020, the case of stealing that was still pending in this court came up in which three defendants are standing trial for conspiracy, stealing and receiving of the stolen property respectively.
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These defendants are syndicate who are talented in snatching phones.
“The facts of the matter revealed that sometime last year, Jacob Abiodun, the head of operations of a security company reported to the police that one of their staff at Rumuomasi connived with others and stole about 10 phones.
“These phones belonged to some staff and customers of the security firm and that they couldn’t recover the phones.
“Police, as a follow up swung into action and started tracking the phones through the numbers of the phones.
“In course of tracking the phones, one Joseph Chukwudi Okolo and Miracle Iwayi were arrested at Sani Abacha Road, GRA.
“In course of arresting Miracle Iwayi, reference was made to Joseph Okolo who upon his interrogation confessed that he bought the phone from one Michael who is now at large at the moment.
“Each time they steal phones, they share the money and this time luck ran out of them and they were arrested and arraigned in court for trial.
“Today, the investigation police officer(IPO) gave evidence in the case and revealed how the tracking was made.
“One of the stolen phones known as Infinix Hot 7 was tendered in court as exhibit and the case has been adjourned for further cross-examination.”
