Serial cellphone thief seeks charging help from victim he robbed

A 29-year-old serial cellphone thief, Trevor Nkomo from Mathendele in Plumtree, has left local bar patrons and communities questioning whether his recurring movie-style actions were driven by drunkenness, stubbornness or erratic memory lapse after he allegedly approached and confronted his victims, requesting for phone recharge services and rob them respectively.

Plumtree magistrate, Mr Joshua Nembaware, remanded Nkomo in custody to September 16, 2025, for trial, where he is facing two counts of theft and robbery.

State led by Sheila Nyathi alleged that (first count) on July 23, 2025, at around 18:30 hours (at Msilisi Bar), the complainant, Mlungisi Mabhena was drinking a beer when Nkomo searched him and stole a Mobicel cellphone from his (Mabhena) pocket and vanished.

The court further heard that on July 26, 2025, at around 03:00 hours, Mabhena was drinking beer at Siphosenkosi bar, where the accused came with the stolen phone and asked the complainant to recharge it for him. Upon being handed over the cellphone, Mabhena realised that the phone is his and therefore confronted Nkomo over the issue where the accused snatched away the phone from complainant's hand and ran away.

On July 31 of 2025, at around 04:00 hours, another complainant (count two), Hebert Moyo (30) was at Msindo Bar when he met Nkomo, who convinced him to sell his iTel A18 for ZAR 500. Moyo agreed and was only paid a deposit of ZAR100, with the balance scheduled to be paid as soon as they got to Nkomo's home. Upon arrival at the accused's home with intentions to collect the balance, Nkomo produced a machete and threatened to assault Moyo with it, whereupon he escaped and left his phone behind with the accused.

Total value of stolen properties on all counts amount to US$145 and ZAR500 of which nothing was recovered except the ZAR100 which was once paid as a deposit.