Phone Thefts Hit Over 100 Johannesburg Race Runners

More than 100 runners lost their phones when thieves struck during the Absa event in the city on Heritage Day. Criminals mixed in as participants and cut bags along the route. Victims flocked to stations after the phone thefts left them without devices in the middle of their fitness celebration.

Runners set out full of energy on 24 September 2026. Heritage Day brought clear skies over Johannesburg. Thousands lined up for the Absa Run Your City 10K. The course began at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown.

It wound through the CBD past the Nelson Mandela Bridge and onto sections of the M1 and M2. Fitness goals drove the pack. Celebration filled the air. Then the thefts began.

Khathutshelo Mulaudzi felt the cut in her bag somewhere on the route. She could not name the exact spot. She finished the race only to discover her phone gone. At the station she found company.

“It was a great run, but criminals posing as runners targeted us. I’m currently at the police station with more than 100 other people whose phones were stolen,” she said. Her words spread fast. Other participants echoed the same loss. Bags sliced open. Devices lifted mid-stride. The crowd of victims grew.

How did criminals steal phones during the Johannesburg race?

Criminals posed as fellow runners cut bags and lifted phones while participants focused on the course.

They slipped into the field early. Some may have entered without proper numbers. Others simply joined the stream of bodies. A runner later described the moment her bag gave way under a sharp slice. She kept moving. The thief melted back into the group. Similar accounts came from different points along the route.

The open streets of central Johannesburg offered cover. Heavy traffic of legs and arms hid the quick hands. Security presence proved insufficient against this quiet method. Race organizers faced immediate questions about entry checks and course monitoring. Absa, as title sponsor, also drew calls for answers on safety measures.

Police responded once reports reached them. Captain Tintswalo Sibeko of the Johannesburg District spoke for the service. Management had noted the social media claims. Yet only one formal theft case stood open at the time of her statement.

“According to the case reported, the circumstances surrounding the alleged theft are currently under investigation. No arrests have been made at this stage,” she confirmed. Officers urged victims to come forward with statements and serial numbers.

The gap between the reported crowd at stations and the single docket raised further questions. Some runners may have chosen not to file. Others might still arrive. Investigators continued to dig into the single formal complaint while monitoring the wider chatter.

What have police confirmed about the scale of the phone thefts?

Police confirmed awareness of social media reports but verified only one formal theft case under active investigation with no arrests.

The single case remains the official starting point. Detectives examine how the thief gained access and executed the cut. They seek any recovered devices or witness descriptions. Johannesburg already battles high rates of street crime.

Phone snatching ranks among the most common losses in the CBD and surrounding areas. This incident stands out because it struck inside a controlled sporting event. Runners expected barriers and marshals to offer protection. Instead, the pack itself became the hunting ground.

Participants spoke of mixed feelings. The run itself delivered the promised challenge and city views. The aftermath soured the day. Many left without the ability to call for rides or share finish line photos.

Some tracked their devices later only to find them switched off or already wiped. Others simply accepted the loss and focused on replacing the hardware. Community posts mixed sympathy with frustration at the repeated pattern of opportunistic crime in public spaces.

Race organizers have yet to issue a full public accounting of security arrangements or the total number of complaints received. Absa faces pressure to explain its role in protecting the field it sponsors.

Runners demand clearer protocols for future events. Bag checks at the start. More visible stewards along the route. Better coordination with police for rapid response. These steps could reduce the chance of a repeat.