Funeral thief caught

A man accused of taking advantage of grieving families by pretending to be a relative of the deceased before stealing their valuables has been arrested in Lilongwe.

Lilongwe Police are keeping 20-year-old Edgar Jimmy in custody for allegedly stealing from mourners at funerals and the Kamuzu Central Hospital mortuary using the deception.

According to Lilongwe Police deputy public relations officer Sergeant Khumbo Sanyiwa, investigations show that Jimmy would mix with bereaved families by posing as a relative of the deceased before stealing handbags and other belongings.

Police said one of the incidents occurred on December 24, 2025, at around 1pm at Kamuzu Central Hospital mortuary, where the suspect allegedly stole a handbag containing two mobile phones, a Redmi A10 and an Itel S18.

The suspect’s alleged scheme came to an end on July 21, 2026, when he returned to the same mortuary with intentions to commit another theft.

Police said a victim who had returned to the mortuary after the death of a close relative recognised Jimmy and alerted authorities, leading to his arrest.

Jimmy remains in police custody and is expected to appear before court to answer theft charges.

Meanwhile, Lilongwe Police have appealed to members of the public who may have fallen victim to similar incidents involving the suspect to come forward and report to help with ongoing investigations.