Police Arrest Woman Suspected of Leading a Network Exploiting a Child for Theft in Kenitra
The city of Kenitra witnessed a significant development this morning in the case of a child seen in several videos conducting thefts from shops in the Al-Khabbazat neighborhood. This follows the arrest of her mother by law enforcement after it was confirmed that she had incited her minor daughter to commit these acts.
The videos documenting these thefts show the mother accompanying the child, and at times waiting for her outside the stores. This led investigators to suspect the existence of a small organized network exploiting the child’s innocence for systematic theft.
This security action comes after an increase in complaints from merchants in the Al-Khabbazat area, exceeding twelve complaints, all documented with video recordings showing how the child entered shops and skillfully stole money and valuable items before calmly leaving to where her mother or other women, spotted in some clips, awaited, monitoring from a distance.
This incident is not the first involving the child; she had previously been detained months ago after stealing a significant amount of money from a fast-food outlet. At that time, she was handed over to the police but released due to her young age, as Moroccan law does not allow for the prosecution of children under twelve. It appears this legal provision has been exploited by those employing the child, allowing for repeated offenses without actual accountability.
Several traders expressed their frustration over the recurrence of thefts, especially after discovering that the individuals behind these acts are not merely a misguided child but also family members who did not hesitate to involve her in activities that violate laws and undermine the dignity of childhood. Calls have arisen to expand the investigation to include everyone appearing in the videos and to tighten security monitoring in commercial areas known for their activity, in order to protect social security and the rights of shop owners.
The security services have launched an extensive investigation to identify all those involved in these repeated thefts, particularly in light of the recordings that reveal suspicious movements of adult individuals accompanying the child who seem to be knowledgeable about the operations. Activists in child protection have urged that this girl be considered a victim before being viewed as a perpetrator, calling on relevant authorities to provide her with a protection and rehabilitation program that ensures her separation from the environment that led her down this path.
This incident has reignited discussions about the exploitation of minors in criminal activities, taking advantage of legal gaps or weaknesses in social interventions, which necessitates serious action from various stakeholders to put an end to this type of familial deviation that not only threatens the present of childhood but also sows the seeds of chaos and disruption within society.
