Shame as underwear thief is busted, decorated with the stolen garments

An underwear thief’s 40 days run out dramatically in Majengo area in Likuyani Sub County after he was caught grabbing the garments from a clothes line.

The 30-year-old man, only identified as Wanyonyi, found himself between the hammer and the anvil after villagers ransacked his pockets and bag, and found more than 40 pairs of stolen panties.

It is suspected that Wanyonyi had been on a day-long underwear-stealing spree within the locale, and had been quite successful, if the number of panties he had was anything to go by. Locals expressed suspicion that Wanyonyi could be having an even bigger stash of stolen panties at his home.

Wanyonyi was caught by neighbours when a 10-year-old girl raised alarm after she found him hurriedly grabbing the items of clothing from a bathroom clothes line.

According to the child’s mother, Susan Mudeiz, she left home for work as usual, leaving the ten year old to take care of the home.

Suspected witchdoctor

“My child was busy doing her homework when a boda boda rider came inquired about who was home and requested to be given drinking water. No sooner had she gotten into the kitchen to fetch him water, than the man made a quick dash into the bathroom. He yanked panties off the cloth line and stuffed them in his jacket and small bag he had,” Mudeiz explained.

Mudeiz says when her daughter brought water, she was shocked to find the man missing. She instinctively smelled a rat and began screaming, attracting the attention of neighbours who found the man in the bathroom after he had filled undies in his bag and pockets.

The suspect tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended by neighbours. “Residents checked his pockets and bag, only to find him in possession of more forty panties.

“The shocked residents expressed their anger differently, with some chiding him to explain what he uses the panties for, as others adorned him and his motorbike with the garments,” she said.

Residents condemned the incident as some women rummaged through his stash of underwear, trying to see if they could identify them.

Other women who have lost undies in the past expressed their fears as they loudly wondered what the inspiration behind the theft was. Some suspected the man to be a witchdoctor, and feared he might have bewitched them or is in the process of doing so. Curiously, the suspect refused to talk through out the ordeal.

“This is strange happening. How can a normal man can be found in possession of such items if it is not witchdoctor? Or maybe he wanted to take them to a brewing den and use them to charm and attract customers as most local hooch brewers do?” a worried woman wondered loud.

Residents were planning to lynch him when Matunda sub county assistant chief Joseph Shikuku saved him.

“The suspect is in police custody and once investigation is concluded he will be arraigned in court and charged with burglary,” Shikuku said, urging locals not to take the law unto their own hands.