“She is Educated and Neat,” Witness Says as Staff Decry Rise in Theft
A mild drama played out on Friday at the CECI Supermarket in Akure when an elderly woman, believed to be around 65 years old, was caught attempting to shoplift a few items.
The woman, who was well-dressed and spoke fluently, was alleged to have concealed a bar of soap, two small sachets of milk, and Milo and a small bottle of Morning Fresh liquid soap in her handbag while openly picking other goods to pay for.
Her luck, however, ran out at the checkout counter when a vigilant cashier noticed the concealed items and raised an alarm.
Witnesses told Roving Reporters that the woman was publicly confronted and allegedly harassed by some supermarket staff, who dragged her by the blouse in a bid to prevent her escape.
“We were shocked. She looked very respectable and even sounded quite educated,” said a staff member who witnessed the incident. “But she still tried to steal things worth less than ₦2,000.”
Another worker who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed concern over what they described as a troubling trend.
“This is not the first time. Just last month, a man stole two left-foot slippers from this same store,” the worker said. “You’ll be surprised—some of them even drive in here with expensive cars, yet they steal soap and milk.”
Sources confirmed that the woman later paid for the stolen items using her ATM card. She was eventually handed over to the police for further questioning.
While some staff members expressed sympathy, suggesting she may be facing financial or psychological challenges, others insisted that no excuse justified the act.
“We see all kinds of people come in here. You never really know what they’re going through. But theft is theft,” a staff at the supermarket said.
