Pô – Two individuals accused of repeatedly stealing from shop and food store owners in Pô were arrested by the national police with the help of local citizens and presented to the prosecutor’s office on August 21, 2024.

According to the Burkina Information Agency, the central police commissioner of Pô, the suspects employed a deceptive tactic where one would distract the store manager pretending interest in multiple items, while the other would stealthily remove money from the cash register. The suspects would then inform the manager they would return later to pick up the goods, leaving the manager unaware of the theft until later.

The arrests were made after a victim identified one of the thieves, prompting the police to track down the suspects. “We arrested them in a shop where they were preparing to carry out their work,” stated Commissioner Koro, noting that both are repeat offenders from Ouagadougou and had confessed to their crimes.

The commissioner also revealed that at least seven traders have reported being victimized by the duo, with total losses amounting to approximately 2.5 million francs. The national police have urged the public and traders to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to emergency numbers 16-17 and 1010.