Women are in double trouble from handbag snatchers. Other than keeping a firm hand on their bags, they now have to also guard their wigs, which have become a lucrative target for the thieves. The wigs, most of which are expensive, are yanked off the heads of women when they are either walking on the streets or in motor vehicles.

The thieves, who target women wearing new locks, literally rip them off the head in a split second. It seems the ‘wig robbers’ know that many ladies want to look beautiful and, therefore, spend a lot of money on weaves and hair pieces to complement their make-up and clothing. At a time when wearing wigs has increasingly become popular, some women in Lusaka have been left traumatised after being robbed of their hair extensions.

One of the victims, Josephine Zulu, 40, a librarian, said she was shocked when, after disembarking from a bus at Kulima Tower bus station, she was robbed of her wig.Ms Zulu said after walking a few metres from the bus station, she suddenly felt light and cooler on her head when it dawned on her that she was no longer wearing the wig. “I thought that it had fallen off because I don’t usually close the clasp. But on-lookers pointed at two boys that were running in the direction I had come from, and one of them was carrying the wig,” she said.

Ms Zulu said she did not bother to report the matter to the police because she feels that the two young men would not have been found. She said luckily for her, she keeps neatly combed natural hair underneath the wig, therefore it was not disastrous for her when the wig was snatched off her head. Ms Zulu said it is cost-effective to have differently styled wigs at hand than to constantly buy hair extensions and have them sewn on to rock a new look.

The hairpiece is easier to handle than sewn on weaves because they not only offer style and manoeuvring, but are also cost-effective.
The hair thieves usually prey on unsuspecting women in busy and crowded places such as bus stations, markets and shopping areas.
A street vendor, Mwangala Mwiya, said she saw a woman robbed of ‘her’ hair once and that this usually happens early in the morning, or late in the evening when everyone is busy and rushing to get home.

“They mainly target women wearing wigs made from expensive hair such as Brazilian and Peruvian remy,” she said. The hair thieves know that artificial hair is lucrative, and that they will not be short of customers because women opt for them as opposed to extensions sewn onto their hair.

A beauty shopkeeper, Florence Mwansa, narrated how a woman who, after boarding a minibus, and sat near the window, was robbed when a thief snatched her hair. Ms Mwansa said they snatch them so quickly and by the time one realises, “they are gone and you would not know who did it because the place is crowded”.

She adds that the hair thieves are sneaky because they do not want to attract attention to themselves to avoid being caught.
And according to Reuters Market research firm Euromonitor International, the dry hair industry, which includes weaves, extensions and wigs, is estimated at US$6 billion a year.

Meanwhile, Kulima Tower police post officer-in-charge David Musole said there have been no reports made regarding the new ‘wig snatch’ crime.
Mr Musole said: “It is important for women to report such crimes because there is no crime which is too small. This can only be stopped if reports are made.”

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has recalled officers who were on leave to beef up security during the festive season.
Mr Kanganja has asked parents and guardians to be vigilant and care for their children because this is the time that the police record increased cases of juvenile delinquencies.

“To ensure effective operations, I have called back all officers who proceeded on leave, and they will go back on leave after festivities. This decision is to enable us to maximise on the number of officers policing communities,” he said. Mr Kanganja said 1,761 juveniles were convicted last year compared to 1,193 convicted in 2016, showing an increase of 569 cases.

“The most prevalent offences committed by juveniles include affray, assault, burglary, theft and housebreaking,” he said.
Mr Kanganja said these statistics are worrying, but he is optimistic that with guidance and counsel, the numbers will drop