Too late to apologise: Criminal says sorry to victims

A 26-year-old man whose cellphone snatching spree was exposed in a viral social media video has been arrested by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), days after footage showed him brazenly robbing a woman outside an eatery.

The incident occurred on 28 December 2025 when the suspect snatched a cellphone from a woman as she and her friend were about to enter a restaurant. The friend managed to record the incident, capturing the suspect fleeing the scene. The video was widely circulated on social media, sparking public outrage and renewed concerns about cellphone theft in busy public spaces.

The suspect’s image trended online for days as residents demanded action. On Tuesday, 30 December 2025, JMPD’s Tactical Response Unit (TRU) arrested the man during an intelligence-driven operation in Hillbrow.

According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, officers followed information that led them to a flat in Hillbrow, where the suspect was found hiding on a balcony. He was arrested after being found in possession of a cellphone he could not account for.

Following his arrest, the suspect appeared in a video conversation with MMC for Public Safety in the City of Johannesburg, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku. During the exchange, the MMC confronted the man about his criminal activities.

“Why were you snatching other people’s phones?” Tshwaku asked.

“It’s because I was drunk. I was trying to make a living by stealing phones in Pretoria,” the suspect replied.

Tshwaku warned the suspect about the seriousness of his actions and the consequences of crime in Johannesburg. “In Johannesburg there are no-nonsense officers known as the Tactical Response Unit. They even shoot,” Tshwaku said, adding that law enforcement agencies in Johannesburg work closely with those in the City of Tshwane.

The MMC also demanded that the suspect reveal the identities of people he worked with in committing the crimes. The suspect admitted that despite being wanted for other similar offences, he had not previously been arrested.

Encouraged to apologise to his victims, the suspect claimed he wanted to stop stealing after being cautioned by several people. “This has taken me back, to all those that have fallen victims by me. I am sorry,” he said.

During the conversation, the suspect revealed that he is a Zimbabwean national who grew up in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. Tshwaku criticised what he described as criminal conduct by foreign nationals, saying, “You leave Zimbabwe to commit crime in South Africa, when citizens complain they are labelled xenophobic.”

Meanwhile, JMPD confirmed that investigations linked the suspect to multiple phone snatching incidents across Gauteng, as well as a March 2025 hijacking of an off-duty JMPD officer reported under a Diepsloot SAPS case. Police further allege that a Toyota Corolla with cloned registration plates was used in the commission of some of the crimes.

The operation was extended, leading to the arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals at Wanderers Street in Johannesburg Central. They are suspected to be part of a syndicate involved in “flushing” or reprogramming stolen cellphones. Police recovered specialised equipment used to wipe devices during the arrests.

The main suspect was detained at Hillbrow SAPS on charges of possession of suspected stolen property, while the three additional suspects were detained at Johannesburg Central SAPS on similar charges. All four are expected to appear in court soon.

JMPD Chief of Police Commissioner Patrick Jaca praised the Tactical Response Unit for the arrests, saying the breakthrough sends a strong message to criminals.

“There is no hiding place for criminals in Johannesburg. Our officers are working tirelessly to dismantle syndicates that terrorise our residents,” Jaca said.

Police said investigations are continuing and more arrests linked to the syndicate are expected.