A Nigerian man has been apprehended after allegedly stealing an iPhone 14 Pro Max from a boutique located in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. The theft occurred while the store owner and the sales representative were reportedly asleep, creating an opportunity for the suspect to carry out the act unnoticed.
The incident quickly gained attention after it was shared on a popular social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), along with CCTV footage from the boutique that captured the entire scene.
In the surveillance footage, the suspect can be seen casually walking into the boutique, realizing that both the store owner and the sales rep were fast asleep.
Instead of alerting them or making his presence known, he stealthily moved around the shop. After a quick scan of the premises, he proceeded to the back of a table where a phone was visibly charging. He discreetly took the device — an iPhone 14 Pro Max — and, emboldened by his initial success, went on to steal another phone before exiting the store without being noticed.
Unbeknownst to him, the store’s CCTV cameras had captured every detail of his movements. The video soon made its way to the internet, where it quickly went viral, attracting widespread condemnation and public outrage.
Following the circulation of the footage, efforts were made to track down the suspect. Within a short period, he was successfully identified and apprehended. A follow-up video that also trended online showed the man sitting on the floor, appearing remorseful after being caught.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions from social media users. While some commended the swift arrest, others criticized the handling of petty criminals versus high-profile offenders.
See some reactions below:
@itsnrman: “How was he caught so fast? Wow, commendable.”
@official_papson: “Naked him and take him around Gwarimpa to Wuse 2 on foot. They flog am Dey go. Sometimes forget constitution, criminals need to be dealt with traditionally.”
@UTDvicton: “Make dem use oraimo cord for him neck, then 2 by 2 for him chest.”
@OCblack127: “See how them dey beat who thief phone but when them see who thief $50 billion dollars for office then go call am Oga. Nigerians.”
@LarryAngel08: “You go die keh, just give ham better beating and hand ham over to police, because police go later free ham, beat ham very well.”
@IktGadget: “No pity am o, beat am, beat shege commot e body.”
WATCH VIDEO:
()UPDATE: Man Who Støle iPhone 14 Pro Max in Abuja Shop Arrested. https://t.co/doIOCedEvC pic.twitter.com/EqDYXPNH5P
— CHUKS 🍥 (@ChuksEricE) May 11, 2025