A DAY-TIME THEFT THAT SHOOK OUR STREET

Who would think of commiting a crime in my neighborhood? Not even at night!

I reside in a community where a majority of the population lacks education and earns below-average incomes. Among the few buildings, there are a couple owned by businesspeople and civil servants. The rest of the residents comprise stay-at-home mothers, unemployed men who engage in daily drafts, and individuals involved in small-scale trading on their verandas.

I've been a resident in the area for three years, during which time there haven't been any reports of theft in our neighborhood. We are protected by a vigilante group that watches over the area at night, using the sound of beating metal to scare away potential thieves. This I thought was to justify the money the landlords collect for security. Nothing much.

However, a recent incident changed things. One of the landlords lost his wife. The couple had children living abroad, in the UK, Canada, and South Africa. During the funeral proceedings, the children returned and enhanced the neighborhood. They improved the road, added streetlights, and brought a lively atmosphere with loud music. Rumor had it that some neighbors enjoyed days of free food.

On the day of the funeral, the street was closed to accommodate numerous visitors in fancy cars. Security personnel with firearms were present to guide the children and protect important guests. The day after the burial, the street was once again back to normal. No more crowds, fancy cars, everywhere was quiet. Only their fenced house offered any indication of the recent ceremony.

Suddenly, we were startled by the sound of gunshots. Initially, we assumed it was related to the funeral, but it was not. Thankfully, I didn't go outside. About 30 minutes later, shouts could be heard from different corners of the street. Armed men had entered, presumably seeking the house where the burial had taken place. Who knows, they might be looking for the children of the deceased who came from abroad with dollars I presume.

Failing to identify the specific house, they resorted to looting residences one by one.

Valuables such as money, wrist watches, and phones were stolen.
Mostly, those driving into the street seemed to be targeted, probably mistaken for visitors of the deceased. Drivers were forced to halt, surrender their belongings including money, ATM cards,watches, anything in the car they the thieves pointed . Even a bar on the street wasn't spared, with customers losing their ATM cards, money, wrist watches and phones.

Adjacent to the bar, Mummy Grace, a local vendor, lay on the ground with her earnings, ready to hand them over if the thieves entered her shop. Fortunately, they didn't.

Many who had nothing to offer were slapped, kicked and hit with the gun, so we learnt.

My family and I are grateful our house was untouched. Only God knows why. After about half an hour of looting, the assailants fled. Later, we discovered all that happened and that they had abducted a child walking in the street, causing a commotion among victims. Pursuit was attempted, but cautiously due to the robbers' weapons. Police men were contacted. Eventually, the child was found, but the criminals managed to escape.

Since then, my family and I avoid staying out late and supervise our daughters closely when they venture into the street. 😅

Others in the street do same especially the traders. We hear their customers shout at the top of their voices that they want to buy one thing or the other, but they hardly get response because everyone is scared now.

No where is safe in my country. One can think my area is safe because people are hardly out again at night. If anyone does walk in the middle of the night, I am sure he might be robbed again.

This is my entry into @hivelearners contest for week 75, third edition. It's my pleasure to participate.