I Make N18,000 Daily As Pickpocket At Computer Village – Suspect

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A 31-year old suspected pickpocket arrested in Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos ,Lawal Daodu, has confessed to the operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) that he made at least N18,000 daily selling stolen phones.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that suspect, Daodu, was arrested on Friday around 5pm when he unsuccessfully picked a phone from the pocket of a passerby under the bridge at Ikeja.

Lawal Daodu, who had before his arrest allegedly steadily picked at least 2 android phones from passersby, was removing another android phone from the pocket of another victim when the phone incidentally fell from his hand thus drawing the attention of its owner.
He was promptly arrested by the RRS officers attached to the Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed under the bridge at Ikeja.

Just as the suspect was explaining the source of the phones in his possession, one of his victims, who was trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening saw his phone in the suspect’s hands.

Lawal Daodu in his confession to the Police, explained that he operates  in Computer Village, Ikeja and Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

“On Friday, I was in Computer Village as usual. I have picked two phones in the morning which I sold to my customers in Computer Village. In the afternoon, I resumed to pick few phones. I was picking the third one when the owner raised alarm which attracted the attention of the RRS men. They arrested me and unfortunately, just as I was trying to prove my innocence, one of my victims identified his phone in my hand.”
“I don’t operate every time. I go out at times twice in a week and I make at least N18,000 from pick pocketing. There were times I made more than that, especially, when I picked expensive phones.
I started pick pocketing in 2017 and I have never been arrested before. I buy and sell clothes in Computer Village before I resorted to pick pocketing. I sell the phones to Afeez and Lanre; they are street guys in Computer Village. I was trained by Bello. I have not seen him in a long while now” he added.
Commenting on the development, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said that the suspect is assisting the Police in the arrest of the buyers of his stolen phones in Computer Village, Ikeja.