Douala: Man arrested after stealing 12 million FCFA

Authorities on Thursday arrested and beat up a man who broke into a tyre sales store in Deido, Douala, Cameroon, at 6 p.m. The man stole a bag containing 12 million CFA francs, MMI has learned.

The bandit, whose identity is yet to be revealed, entered the store through a back door and made his way to the office, where he stole the bag of money. He, however, did not realise that the saleswoman had seen him enter the store. She instantly alerted her neighbours, who intervened and informed security forces.

“I was busy packing some tyres in the back yard when I saw a strange person in the store who had not used the main entrance trying to exit the store with my bag with him,” narrated the saleswoman.

She continued, “I asked myself, who is this, and how did he get into the store? That is how I started shouting, and my neighbours came in and took the backpack from him, containing 12 million. They got him well beaten, and a military officer joined in before taking him to the station.”

The burglar is being held at the 9th district police station in Deido, Douala.

The incident has shed light on rising insecurity in Douala amid an increasing crime wave in the city. A few days ago, the residents of the Nkomondo neighbourhood set two bandits ablaze for attacking a woman and attempting to run away with her bag. The authorities in Douala catch thieves on a daily basis. The police urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.