Grand Yoff Police arrest two suspects in violent phone robbery case

Police in Grand Yoff say they have arrested two suspects in connection with a violent street robbery after officers intercepted them while they were allegedly trying to sell a stolen iPhone 12 at the busy Grand Yoff market, commonly known as “Maket Bi.”

According to the district police station, the arrests were made on April 9, 2026, during a patrol operation in the market area. Officers said they became suspicious when the two men attempted to market the phone but were unable to provide the device’s unlock code.

That inconsistency prompted further questioning and investigation, which police say helped establish the circumstances of the theft.

Authorities allege that the two suspects were on their way to the National Arena to watch a wrestling event when, in the Castors neighborhood, they targeted a young woman on a public road. Police said one of the men violently snatched the phone from the victim before fleeing with the other suspect.

Investigators say the two men then went to Grand Yoff market to sell the stolen phone to a known receiver for CFA50,000. Police intervention reportedly took place during the transaction itself, leading to the arrest of the two alleged robbers.

The alleged receiver escaped and is now being sought by investigators.

Police said both suspects have been placed in custody on allegations of criminal association and robbery committed with violence by a group, while the investigation continues.

Beyond the arrests, the case highlights a wider urban safety concern: mobile phones remain among the most frequently targeted items in street robbery because they are easy to snatch, easy to move, and often tied to informal resale channels. Effective policing can disrupt such crimes, but longer-term prevention also depends on public vigilance, market oversight, and stronger action against receivers who make street theft profitable.

The swift intervention in this case prevented the suspected resale from being completed and may help reconnect the stolen property to its owner. It also sends a broader message that theft networks are not limited to the person who commits the snatching, but often include the resale chain that sustains the crime.

Police have urged members of the public to continue sharing useful information through the toll-free number 800 00 17 00.