Teenagers Arrested For Stealing Necklace & Cash In Lagos

Three female teenagers have been arrested for allegedly stealing gold necklace worth thousands of naira at Ijanikin area of Lagos State. The girls were also accused of stealing a phone, laptop and an unspecified amount of cash. 

The girls are identified as Maria Falolu, 14, Jelila Abbass, 15 and Adijat Seidu, 16. They were said to have been handed over to policemen attached to Ijanikin Division. According to the police, the ladies were alleged to have specialised in such pilfering. They were arrested last week after allegedly stealing a set of gold necklace and cash at 1, Ojolowo Street, Otto Awori at Ijanikin area.

The girls have been arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, from where they were taken to Idi-Araba Remand Home. The teenagers were nabbed by residents after the owner of the shop, Mrs Yetunde Awolola, raised the alarm. Police investigation revealed that the suspects live with their parents within the vicinity of Ijanikin in Otto Awori Local Council Development Area, where the crime was committed. 

A police source disclosed that the modus operandi of the suspects was that they would enter into a shop, demand for an item that is not available in the shop.

The source said: “In the case where the owner says she doesn’t have and wants to bring the item from another shop, they would steal items from the shop before the owner returns. They have stolen a lot of goods from many unsuspecting shop owners in the area before luck ran out on them.”