An alleged burglar in Plateau State was trapped by a burglar proof, hindering his attempt to escape from a shop after looting it.
A true reflection of the adage, “every day is for the thief and one day is for the owner of the goods”, was the scene at one of the Plateau Club Shops, located on Central Bank Road in Jos, north central Nigeria, as the young burglar, in his attempt to gain entrance into one of the shops, got stuck within the burglar proof mounted as security barrier.
Security awareness with provision of obstacles has been described as a critical step in safeguarding property at homes and commercial places in Nigeria in view of the prevalent criminal activities by bandits and burglars.
Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Emmanuel Abuh, said that providing such obstacles served as first line preventive measures against activities of men of the underworld.
With his head stuck at the door of Zebra Barbers and Laundry, the burglar spent over 10 hours in the cold breeze of Jos wriggling to free himself until security agents came to free him by cutting the burglary irons to loosen the trapped head.
The owner of Zebra Barbers & Laundry, Dan Dul, had come in in the morning to find the burglar stuck.
He Said: “As I was entering the shop, I saw one young man, very vibrant young man, hanging in between my burglary. His head was hanging there. I asked him, ‘what are you doing here?’. He said I should come and help him, pleading and saying that he will explain. He even said he will give me his phone to hold so that I will help him
“I said I will help him if he could tell me why he was there”.
The shop owner alerted the police after talks with the suspected burglar.
The police spokesman said the burglar had entered the shop through the ceiling and had collected some items.
“After he had packed all the items and attempted to pass through the window burglar proof, got stuck between the iron.
“The police was alerted and operatives moved in there immediately and he was arrested.
“For now he is being investigated,” Mr Abuh said.
Shop owners within the Plateau Club Complex have been subjected to constant raids by the criminals that have resulted in loosing items running into millions of Naira without any probable solution to the menace.
Dorcas Takwi and Hassan Mohammed said their items had been stolen from their shops in the past by burglars who come in through the ceiling.
Provision of security though is the primary of the police, citizens are also reminded of collaborating with security agencies by providing information and taking precautionary measures that could prevent criminals from perpetrating their evil activities.
As the war against crimes and criminal activities increases, it is a collective assignment for the citizens and security agents alike.
While the citizens cooperate with security agents in fighting crime while the security agents should also intensify efforts in responding to distress calls promptly and without hindrances.