Information reaching this publication indicate police have now arrested five suspects in connection to stolen phones at just ended Sand Music Festival which took place in Mangochi.

Mangochi Police say they are keeping in custody Edward Austin (35), Cidreck Chilembwe (23), Yusuf Stambuli (26), Aaron Phiri (24) and Yamikani Moffat (25) who are believed to have been behind a spate of mobile phone thefts during the event.

According to the police report, it is alleged the five individuals are based in Lilongwe and they were using a blue Toyota Corolla Saloon car. They booked a room at one of the rest houses within Mangochi town.

On Monday the owner of the rest house reported to police after he got suspicious that the guests did not return to claim their car for days.

Upon searching their room, police recovered 20 cell phones which included three iPhones, four Samsung phones, two Redmi phones, six Tecno phones, a Huawei phone, TNM Mpamba phone and two small Itel phones.

According to the police, the five have confessed to have committed the crimes and investigations to recover the remaining phones are underway.

Mangochi Police Station public relations officer Amina Tepani Daudi has advised people who reported their missing phones to visit the police to identify them.

The arrest of the four come barely after a day when it was reported that the police were keeping in custody one alleged thief whose particulars were yet to be revealed.