Woman Jailed for Stealing iPhone from Taxi Passenger

 

An 18-year-old woman from Chinotimba in Victoria Falls has been sentenced to six months in prison by the Hwange Magistrates Court for stealing a gold iPhone 13 valued at US$550.

Diana Dube committed the offence on January 29, 2026, along Mukwa Drive Road in Hwange. The victim, a 27-year-old man, had boarded a taxi heading to the bus rank when he fell asleep and accidentally dropped his phone onto the seat.

Dube, who was also a passenger in the taxi, took advantage of the situation and stole the device.

The phone was later recovered after police detectives in Victoria Falls received a tip-off that Dube was attempting to sell a suspected stolen cellphone. She was arrested and subsequently led police to the recovered device.

The court sentenced Dube to six months’ imprisonment, with three months suspended for five years. 

The remaining three months were suspended on condition that she completes 105 hours of community service.