Viral phone snatcher linked to Diepsloot hijacking arrested
The man captured in a viral cellphone-snatching video has now been identified as the same suspect linked to the hijacking of an off-duty JMPD officer in Diepsloot.
A 26-year-old man linked to a Diepsloot hijacking case has been arrested by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department’s (JMPD) Tactical Response Unit, following an inner-city operation that also led to the apprehension of three suspected members of a stolen cellphone syndicate.
According to JMPD in a media statement, the suspect has been positively linked to the March 2025 hijacking of an off-duty JMPD officer under a Diepsloot SAPS case.
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He is also believed to be connected to multiple cellphone snatching incidents across Gauteng, as well as the use of a Toyota Corolla fitted with cloned registration plates during the commission of the crimes.
The arrest took place on December 30, after officers acted on intelligence about a suspect who had gained widespread attention on social media. In a viral video, the man is seen snatching a cellphone from a woman before fleeing.
The investigation led JMPD’s Tactical Response Unit to a flat in Hillbrow, where officers conducted a search and found the suspect hiding on a balcony. He was arrested after being found in possession of a cellphone he could not account for.
Further investigations led officers to Wanderers Street in Johannesburg Central, where three Bangladeshi nationals were arrested. The trio is suspected of being part of a syndicate responsible for ‘flushing, or reprogramming and wiping, stolen cellphones’. Police recovered specialised equipment allegedly used in the process.
The primary suspect, a Zimbabwean national, was detained at Hillbrow SAPS on charges of possession of suspected stolen property.
The three Bangladeshi suspects were detained at Johannesburg Central SAPS and face similar charges. All four suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
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JMPD Chief of police Commissioner Patrick Jaca praised the Tactical Response Unit for its swift action, saying the arrests marked a significant breakthrough.
“The arrest of these individuals is a significant breakthrough in our ongoing efforts to dismantle syndicates that terrorise our residents. By linking this suspect to both the viral video and the hijacking of one of our own members, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for criminals in Johannesburg,” said Jaca.
“Our officers are working tirelessly to ensure that all those involved in the value chain of stolen property are brought to book. The search and arrest of more suspects is imminent.”
Investigations are continuing, with further arrests expected as police work to dismantle the broader syndicate.
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