Bertoua has once again been rocked by a dramatic burglary case, shedding light on rising acts of banditry in some neighbourhoods of the city.
In the night of 27 to 28 August, the home of Mr Abdoulaye, located in Bertoua 2 near Hôtel La Grâce, was broken into by thieves who made away with various household items including a bag of rice, cooking pots, plates, two thermos flasks, two gas bottles, and several kitchen accessories.
However, the audacity of the burglars did not stop there.
On the following night, 28 to 29 August, the same individuals returned to the property, using a ladder to scale the fence.
This time, the homeowner, alerted by suspicious noises, quietly observed their movements through tinted windows, which concealed his presence.
Acting quickly, he recorded the incident, clearly capturing one of the suspects on video. The footage showed one man armed with a long bolt cutter, while his accomplice kept watch at the fence.
Their method involved cutting through padlocks to gain access, but their plan failed when Mr Abdoulaye struck one of them on the hand with an axe as he attempted to force the door open.
On 29 August, around 16:00, the victim reported the incident to the Division Régionale de la Police Judiciaire (DRPJ), providing the video evidence and supporting details for his complaint.
Investigations advanced swiftly.
That same evening, at around 19:00, police arrested Ousmane, identified from the footage.
His interrogation led to the arrest of his accomplice, Beloko Oumarou, early the next morning in the same neighbourhood.
During the raid, officers seized a bolt cutter, a ladder, and a dagger—tools used in their night-time operations.
The pair, known for cutting padlocks as part of their modus operandi, are strongly suspected of carrying out a series of burglaries in Bertoua. Authorities continue investigations to uncover other potential victims and dismantle what appears to have been a budding criminal career cut short.
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