Suspected phone thief made to carry heavy stones

A young man who claims to be a painter was subjected to severe mob punishment at the popular PTC Bus Stop in Circle on Saturday, November 7, 2026, after he was caught snatching a mobile phone from a trotro passenger.

According to eyewitnesses, the suspect snatched the device from the unsuspecting passenger and immediately removed the phone case before throwing it away to conceal his crime.

However, his actions were noticed by onlookers who had been closely observing his movements.

He was quickly confronted by the crowd but stoutly denied snatching the mobile phone.

A thorough search conducted by the aggrieved mob eventually led to the recovery of the stolen phone from his person, which was subsequently returned to its rightful owner.

Outraged by the incident, the mob subjected the suspect to a heavy beating before forcing him to carry heavy stones as a form of punishment.

Some eyewitnesses and passers-by who joined in punishing the young man stated that the ordeal would serve as a vital lesson to deter him from engaging in criminal activities in the future.

The suspect was advised by members of the public present to desist from stealing and seek legitimate employment as a painter, warning that continued engagement in crime could lead to far worse consequences.

The incident quickly gained traction on social media as some eyewitnesses went live on TikTok to broadcast the punishment, emphasising that the public exposure would serve as a warning to other thieves operating in the area.

As part of the humiliation, the young man was compelled to publicly confess his actions and declare, “Next time I will not come to PTC to steal again. I am a silly man. I am stupid. I will not steal a mobile phone at PTC again.”

At the time of filing this report, the suspect was still carrying the heavy stone under the supervision of the crowd and had not yet been handed over to the police.