Suspect Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Jewellery Worth More Than 500,000 Birr From Guesthouse

August 21, 2026
By Mintesinot Nigussie

A suspect has been arrested in Addis Ababa after allegedly entering a guesthouse room with a similar key and attempting to steal jewellery containing 529.2 grams of silver and 6.3 grams of gold, police said.

The suspect, identified as Fikre Dendir, allegedly entered the room of a guest, Zebene Tame, at a guesthouse in Woreda 8 of the Addis Ketema sub-city while the victim had left the room to have dinner.

According to the Addis Ketema Sub-City Police Main Department, Dendir had rented a room adjacent to the victim’s and allegedly used a similar key to open the victim’s locked room.

He allegedly took various pieces of jewellery containing 529.2 grams of silver and 6.3 grams of gold, with a combined value of more than 500,000 birr, and attempted to leave the guesthouse.

The suspect was identified through security camera footage installed at the guesthouse and was subsequently taken into police custody, according to the police.

Several keys were also reportedly found during a body search of the suspect.

Police said an investigation was under way and that a case file would be prepared for prosecution.

The Addis Ababa Police Commission said security cameras were playing an important role in preventing and investigating similar crimes and urged the wider use of CCTV systems as part of efforts to combat criminal activity.

Source: FSX Business News