THREE women are currently on the run after they allegedly stole a phone, K35, 000 cash, 900 Swedish krona and two bank cards from a Swedish businessman who had gone to Ndola for the recently held Trade Fair.

The incident is alleged to have happened on Saturday last week at Starscape Hotel in Ndola in which Svensson Karl Magnus aged 61, a Swedish national of unknown house number Ingalate Avenue, Chelstone in Lusaka reported that three unknown females stole his property.

Mr Magnus said among the items stolen include an iPhone 13 Promax valued at K26,000, K35,500, 900 Swedish krona and two bank cards.

And Copperbelt province commanding officer Sharon Zulu confirmed the incident stating that the complainant, who came from Lusaka on June 28 for the Trade Fair, has been lodging at Starscape Hotel room number 16 since that time, because he was still looking for some business opportunities within the Copperbelt.

She said on July 15 this year around 18:00 hours he met three women who were lodged at the same hotel.

“These women were drinking beer in the beer garden. The complainant was invited to join them. He was offered castle lager and the women requested for his cellphone so that they could play music. At around 21:00 hours, all of them went to the complainant’s room where they continued to drink, “Mrs Zulu said.

She said at around 22:00 hours, he fell into a deep sleep.

Mrs Zulu said the following day around 10:00 hours, Mr Magnus was awakened by one of his workers Mala Yamba who went to check on him at the hotel after her phone was failing to go through.

“He found that the money he had in his cellphone and bank cards were missing. His room was locked from outside and the women went away with the keys. The hotel management used the spare key to open the door. The matter was reported to the police,”she said.

Mr Zulu said police officers visited the crime scene and viewed the footage showing one suspect at the reception the time she came to book a room.

“The receptionist confirmed that the women checked out at around 05:00 hours. They have gone away with the keys to the room which they booked. The names written in the ledgers book for the suspect are Sarah Wanjiru John of Mombasa Kenya,”she said.

Mrs Zulu said when Mr Magnus contacted Stanbic Bank customer service, it was confirmed that money amounting to K30,000 was withdrawn at around 06:30 hours at Stanbic Bank, Kafubu Mall .

She said police have since instituted investigations.

(Mwebantu, Monday, July, 18th, 2022)