By A Correspondent- A police officer attached to a unit that protects foreign diplomats has been arrested and charged with theft after ambushing a woman and stealing her mobile phone.

Locadia Munyu, 23, was walking home from work along Chalkmead Road in Harare’s Greendale suburb at around 5PM when a man emerged from the trees on the side of the road and snatched her phone before fleeing.

Munyu screamed for help and members of the public who were nearby gave chase and apprehended Talent Vhengere, who later turned out to be a constable attached to the Police Protection Unit Diplomats, based at ZRP Tomlison.

An internal police memo says 31-year-old Vhengere was apprehended while still carrying the Itel A15 mobile phone snatched from Munyu.

He also had his police identity card. Vhengere was detained at Rhodesville Police Station and was due to appear in court on Thursday.Some police officers and soldiers have resorted to a life of crime to supplement their meagre incomes.

A police officer in the rank of constable earns $1,133 Zimbabwe dollars (about US$65) per month.