Thieves with a conscious? Apparently so, in this French and English speaking, West African country. An article on Global Voices outlines the story of a young woman who had her purse snatched from her car while loading groceries.
In a strange twist, the robber, perhaps stricken by his conscious, returned to the market area minutes later, asking about the lady whose purse he’d stolen. Unable to find her, he turned it in and the purse landed at a radio station. The lady was able to reclaim her purse, minus the money, and after a bit of haggling.
Apparently, kind thieves aren’t all that uncommon in Cameroon. There is also a thought that these crimes (particularly in the Mokolo market area) are more organized, as the thieves, motivated more by hunger than malice, just want the money. And it is often not difficult to find out where your purse is, after the robbery.
Let’s be clear, thieves and robbers are opportunists, more interested in surviving off the backs of others and this behavior cannot be excused. Yet, I know some women that would gladly welcome the return of their purses, even without the cash – given what they pay for them.