Man in Police Custody for Allegedly Stealing from Bereaved Families in Lilongwe
Published on July 22, 2026 at 9:07 AM by Evance Kapito
Police in Lilongwe are keeping a 20-year-old man, Edgar Jimmy, in custody for allegedly stealing from bereaved families at funerals and mortuaries.
According to Lilongwe Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Khumbo Sanyiwa, the suspect is believed to have targeted mourners by posing as a relative of the deceased before allegedly stealing handbags and other valuables.
Police investigations further indicate that Jimmy may have committed similar offences at the Kamuzu Central Hospital Mortuary, where he allegedly blended in with grieving families before carrying out the thefts.
According to Sanyiwa, on 24 December 2025, at around 1:00 p.m., the suspect allegedly posed as a member of a bereaved family at the mortuary and stole a handbag containing two mobile phones a Redmi A10 and an Itel S18.
However, the suspect’s luck reportedly ran out on 21 July 2026, when he allegedly returned to the same mortuary intending to use the same trick.
Sanyiwa said a victim who had returned to the mortuary following the death of a close relative recognised the suspect and immediately alerted the police, leading to his arrest.
The suspect remains in police custody and is expected to appear before court to answer theft charges.
Police has appealed to members of the public who may have fallen victim to similar incidents to come forward and report their cases to assist with ongoing investigations.
