They have resorted into robbing customers of their luggages.

A new form of theft is gradually gaining steam in the Mokolo market in the nation’s capital.

Door blinds worth huge sums, a TV stand and thermos worth FCFA 27 000 are some of the items that are abandoned at the Yaounde II police station in the Mokolo market. The items are said to be just a few out of the many that have been recovered so far by the police after numerous complaints from people on the disappearance of their luggage orchestrated by truck pushers whom they hired in the market.

A police officer who requested anonymity at the station, handling files of victims said the phenomenon is on the increase around the commercial hub. According to him, not less than five people are victims on weekly basis while a minimum of 10 people fall prey to the delinquents during festive periods and when salaries are out. He therefore urged users of the market, especially housewives, to be vigilant each time they embark on large scale purchase. To him, it only suffices for a client to be distracted for the smart crooks to disappear with his belongings. Pick pocketing and hardened criminality in the commercial hub, he said, are fast giving way to this form of stealing. The occurrence, though not new, pushed many to shed tears as they have lost important sums of money and some threatened with dismissal at the workplaces.

The story of a lady who works for a foreign diplomatic service an embassy in Cameroon is still fresh at the police officer’s memory. After buying office items worth more than FCFA, 100,000, the lady was left stranded in the middle of the market when she realised that the truck pusher, her regular customer, has vanished into thin air with the entire luggage. Confused and afraid to loss her job, she immediately reported to the police station. The lady, with the expertise of police officers the following day, cracked down on the culprit and some of the items were recovered.

Another victim, whose names we got as Ursula, will never forget that faithful week end, three weeks ago, when she was deprived of objects meant for her daughters baptismal celebration worth over FCFA 70.000.

According to the complaints, one truck pusher in stunted growth, police sources say, is a jail breaker and mentor of the thieves. In most of the complaints, the same description featured, he said. In a bid to lay hands on the criminal, elements of law and order in the Yaounde II police station have put in strategies with other truck pushers, not only aimed at arresting him but bringing to a halt the phenomenon that is scaring many away from the market.

They however called on consumers to be vigilant once they hire a truck so as not to fall prey to thieves.