By Sarjo Brito
A family store in Serrekunda that sells different types of African fabric was the scene of a shocking incident on Monday after CCTV footage captured two women in veils and the Muslim abaya dress pretending to be shoppers, allegedly stealing an approximate staggering amount of D200,000. The two women can be seen entering the store with veils on and once inside, one gets busy with one of the salesmen in the store and acting as a shield, while the other carries out the sinister act.
One of the salesmen at the store Alieu Sohna said there have been growing concerns of theft at the market the past years but said things seems to have escalated this year. Whilst they are unable to say exactly how much the unsuspecting thieves got away with, Alieu Sohna said the amount could in fact be up to D300,000.
‘’We face a lot of difficulties here including theft and it is unfortunate that we are seeing an escalation this year because we cannot even tell the exact amount that was taken from our store. I would say D200,000 but it could be more than that. If you see the video and the bag, she took in hard currencies, you will know that it was not a small amount. Our normal daily sale is more than D300,000 and the day the incident occurred was a super day’’
As the market gets busier by the day for Eid preparations, thieves become more sophisticated in carrying out their plans leaving us wondering if this was premeditated or a crime of opportunity?
‘’It could be premeditated or maybe not. Perhaps they saw an opportunity while in the store and decided to take. It if was premeditated I believe she would want to walk away with everything possible but once she had access to one plastic bag containing cash, she left the rest of it untouched. Whether she was in a haste or whatsoever, this was how it happened’’
Alieu Sohna urged his fellow businessmen to be more vigilant and pleads with the members of the public to be reporting people or activities that might look suspicious to them. Alieu Sohna also asks the help of the public in identifying the women seen in the surveillance footage.
