Pick-pocket caught red-handed

He would ask for a ride and steal things from drivers.

MULTAN:

A pickpocket was beaten up by citizens on Tuesday before he was handed over to the police. Police said he had confessed to stealing from people after asking them for a ride.

Police said Muhammad Rafiq would dress up as a labourer and wait on the roadside asking for a ride. When given one, he would then deprive the drivers of their wallets, mobile phones and things, including sun glasses, wrist watches, and even lunch boxes. They said he would change his route at least thrice a day to avoid being caught. They said he usually made Rs6,000 to Rs7,000 a day.

They said he was caught when he stole from brothers Muhammad Abbas and Muhammad Hassan. Hassan said when he told his brother about the incident, he, too, said that he had been looted by a man he had given a ride to. He said, “We spoke about the man’s physical appearance and realised that it was the same man. We then decided to catch him.”

Hassan said he and Abbas disguised themselves as milkmen and looked for him on the roads where he had met them. He said they saw him three days later and followed him. They said they caught him when he stopped a man and asked for a ride.

“We held him by the collar and beat him up.” He was later handed over to the police.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2013.