One of two suspected pickpockets arrested by officials of the Lagos State Task Force has confessed to making N80,000 daily from the crime.
Sodiq Olagoke, 25, was apprehended on Tuesday alongside Lucas Patrick, 26, around Oshodi/Ikeja Along after allegedly dispossessing picking about eight persons’ pockets.
The pair, operating in a commercial bus, looked uneasy and suspicious as they drove past policemen, who later arrested them, police said.
During interrogation, Olagoke reportedly admitted that picking pockets was lucrative and that they usually made about N80,000 daily.
The suspect, formerly a painter, said he had been picking pockets for more than a year.
“We operate mainly on Tuesdays and Fridays because those are the busiest days of the week and there is usually a lot of hustle and bustle at the bus stops. Passengers who make use of their phones while in our bus are usually falsely alerted by the conductor that there is a fight going on in front which would make the passenger pocket the phone; then we steal it,” he said.
Patrick, who usually drove their operational vehicle, said they spend the stolen money on drinks, women and gambling.
“I was originally a driver of a Danfo bus but when I came across Sodiq one day after he operated successfully in my bus. I decided to go into partnership with him. I drive him around while he steals the phones from the passengers,” he said.
Chairman of the task force, CSP Shola Jejeloye said they were committed to rid the state of criminal elements.