Pick Pocketing, A Nasty Thing To Experience

Pick pocketing is a phenomenon common in most of our cities in Ghana today. Until one gets a personal experience, one finds it difficult believing things of this sort. I had my fair share on the 18th day of December, 2011.

Having finished writing my first semester examinations and very anxious to enjoy the freedom that follows that, I quickly left my hostel and headed straight to Tech-junction to board a trotro for kejetia.

Sitting comfortably as the trotro moved I admired the beauty I could see outside from where I was seated in the bus. From Tech-junction through to Maxima, Oforikrom all the way through Asafo then finally to Kejetia where I alighted.

Happily, I walked through the street trying to figure out some nice trousers and other goods to buy. I was so much engrossed with my shopping that I hardly checked my time and the busy atmosphere you find at Kejetia too never gave me a hint that it was getting late.

Finally I decided to return to campus, it was at this point that I checked my time and it was already 6:55 pm and darkness has already set in. I turned to board a trotro back to campus, if you have been at Kejetia at this time of the day before, you will know exactly what goes on. The number of people who seek to board trotro's back to their homes far exceeds the number of trotro's available and this is the time trotro drivers and their mates fool the most, it therefore becomes a matter of survival for the fitters.

I thought I was that strong, this trotro just pulled up and the mate started shouting 'Tech techtechtech' I joined the race ready to battle my way inside. As I tried harder to push a couple of people in front of me away to get access to the entrance,little did I know there were others also putting their hands into people's pockets picking whatever they could find.

At long last I made my way into the bus and it took off. Half way through our journey the driver mate started collecting his coins, it was at this point that I kept my hand in my pocket and to my dismay my phone was gone. At that instance I felt like exploding, the pick pockets have finally had a stint on me. The only thing that prevented me from wailing out loud was the fact that this was just a ghc30 worth China phone. Likely however my purse was safe in my pocket.

I paid the trotro fair and got down. I could not even call my mum to tell her I will be coming home the following morning. Since then I have been very careful anytime I find myself in the busy parts of our cities.

PIUS DOOZIE
[email protected].
The writer holds a Bachelor's degree in History from KNUST.