Laptop 'thieves' in car crash during escape

(All photos by Ronnie Kijjambu)

KAMPALA - Here is a perfect case of being entangled in a twist of misfortune. Well, sort of.

Commuter taxi driver Geoffrey Tamale who resides in Nansana allegedly hoodwinked an unwitting passenger with the help of his tout (conductor).

In an all-too familiar – and apparently choreographed – move, the two men reportedly tricked the unaware traveler into ‘helping them’ open the stuck door of the taxi.

As all of his attention was directed towards offering a helping hand to the tout on the door, little did John Peter Katumba know that, behind his back, the driver was niftily removing his laptop from its bag and carefully replacing it with a slab.

“It all happens fast – in a matter of seconds,” says Francis, who has had a taste of such bitter medicine before.

“They [taxi thieves] have mastered this art. After getting what they want, they force you out of their vehicle, claiming that they are changing their route,” adds Francis.

“You don’t have time to think at that moment and by the time you realize what has actually happened, it’s too late. They are miles away with your stuff!”

Such is what happened to Katumba, only his script had a twist. Karma was at work, you could say.

When he was abruptly forced out of the taxi seconds after ‘helping them open the stuck door’, he immediately got suspicious and noticed what had happened as the taxi sped off. His laptop and wallet, gone!

Instinctively, he waved down a boda boda, hopped on and sped after the fleeing thieves.

But before they could catch up with them, the taxi crashed, leaving the runaway vehicle mangled. Driver Tamale and his tout survived. But knowing that their victim could be after them, the tout made off with the laptop and wallet as the driver remained stranded awkwardly in his seat. Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.

This happened en route to Kisaasi from Wandegeya.

Police soon arrived and towed the ill-fated vehicle to the nearest Kira Road Police Station after using another car to pull off the dashboard and free the stuck driver, whose shirt was drenched in blood.

He was taken into police custody for questioning, and also checked into hospital for medical attention but under the guard of security.

ADVICE: Whenever you are travelling in a taxi, always be alert and conscious of your surroundings. Also take note of the vehicle’s registration number.