The Funniest and Strangest Theft Cases in Egypt
Not all thefts end with a successful escape. Some end in deep sleep, a broken-down car, or even a live broadcast that exposes the thief himself. Among the many theft incidents that occur, there are cases whose details are both amusing and astonishing at the same time.
Despite careful planning by criminals, many of these crimes end in their capture—sometimes due to the efficiency of security forces, and other times because of the thieves’ own mistakes that unintentionally lead them to get caught.
In this report, the Egyptian newspaper Youm7 highlights a number of unusual and humorous theft cases that sparked widespread attention and became trending topics on social media.
Kerdasa Thieves… They Stole 4 Million Pounds, Then Their Car Broke Down
In the Kerdasa area of Giza, one of the boldest and strangest robberies took place when four suspects stormed a Fawry payment branch in broad daylight and stole 4 million Egyptian pounds at gunpoint.
Security forces quickly responded after receiving the report and found that the suspects had threatened employees with weapons before fleeing in a car loaded with cash.
Ironically, their getaway car broke down during the escape. Local residents surrounded them in a heroic scene and managed to capture three of the suspects, while the fourth initially escaped before being arrested later by the police.
The incident quickly spread across social media and was widely described as “the robbery exposed by a car breakdown.”
From Mosque to Post Office… A Failed Tunnel Heist in Alexandria
In another bizarre case, a group of thieves attempted to rob a post office in the Raml district of Alexandria using a cinematic method. They dug a tunnel from inside a nearby mosque that shared a wall with the post office, eventually reaching the building’s wall.
However, as soon as they broke through, the alarm system was triggered. The thieves fled immediately, leaving behind their tools and fully exposing the crime scene.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had monitored the location for days before executing their plan, believing that tunneling from a mosque would avoid suspicion. What they didn’t anticipate was that modern technology would expose them at the critical moment.
The “Chocolate Gang”… Thieves Who Stole Chocolate to Sell It
In a story that sounds like a joke but is completely real, a group of young men formed what became known in the media as “The Chocolate Gang.” Their plan was to steal boxes of chocolate from large retail stores in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement area.
Their activities did not go unnoticed for long. After a report from store security, surveillance footage revealed the suspects raiding shelves and stealing large quantities of chocolate.
They were arrested shortly afterward and confessed that their goal was “quick profit” by reselling expensive chocolate. A misdemeanor court in New Cairo sentenced each of them to one year in prison.
A Thief Steals a Journalist’s Phone… While Being Filmed Live
In a rare and ironic incident, a reporter from Youm7 was conducting a live broadcast on Facebook covering a minor earthquake in Cairo when a thief on a motorcycle approached and snatched his phone.
The surprising twist? The live stream didn’t stop. The camera kept recording, capturing the thief’s face as he rode away casually smoking a cigarette—completely unaware that he was starring in a live video.
Within hours, security forces identified and arrested him along with the motorcycle. He confessed to the crime, and the incident quickly went viral, turning the thief into the unintended “star” of the very broadcast he tried to steal.
“He Forgot His Partner”… The Dumbest Theft in Egypt
One of the strangest stories circulating online was titled “The Thief Who Forgot His Partner.” A man had agreed with his girlfriend to commit a theft, but during their escape, he forgot to open the car door for her and drove off alone.
Police pursued and arrested the woman, recovering the stolen items. Surveillance cameras later revealed the details of the failed operation, which newspapers described as one of the dumbest theft attempts ever.
He Broke In to Steal… Then Fell Asleep
In one of the most amusing incidents, a thief in Luxor broke into a house after midnight intending to steal. However, before he could leave, he fell asleep inside one of the rooms.
The homeowner woke up in the morning to find the thief fast asleep on a bed and immediately called the police, who arrived and arrested him.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had entered the house under the influence of drugs and was unaware that he had fallen into a deep sleep. The story quickly became a humorous trend online, with users nicknaming him “the lazy thief.”
