The arrest of a 26-year-old serial robber, Charles Chukwuma Onwuemelie, popularly known as the Blue Cloth Bandit, by Los Angeles Police Department, has garnered mixed reactions on social media.
Onwuemelie is accused of a total 68 armed robberies that have occurred throughout the LA area since October 2021, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The Nigerian allegedly “used a blue cloth to cover the handgun used in the robberies that occurred at gas stations, 7-11s and Walmarts,” LAPD said in a press release.
“The suspect would conceal himself by wearing different hats, a face mask, and rubber gloves,” LAPD said.
“The same vehicle was used in many of the robberies, and the same suspect was linked to the robberies based on several factors.”
Onwuemelie’s latest attempt occurred on 23 September, when detectives crafted a plan to initiate surveillance and serve a search warrant.
Surveillance footage released by the LAPD shows the suspect appearing to purchase items at a convenience store before he reveals his alleged weapon covered by a blue cloth. He can also be seen wearing blue gloves and a hat that conceals his face in the video.
Police recovered a firearm and other evidence from the scene of Onwuemelie’s latest alleged robbery linking him to the crime.
The suspect is charged with 16 counts of robbery that allegedly occurred within LA city limits, though officials expect the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to file additional charges for numerous other robberies that apparently occurred within the county.
A twitter user, @talk2veeeein’s reaction to Blue Cloth Bandit’s arrest, shared photos of the suspect and his then fiancee when he proposed to her and said: “when the American-based millionaire Big boy, threw an elaborate talk of the town wedding ceremony last year in Nigeria.
“Little did we know that he’s a serial armed robber terrorizing innocent Americans in both Petrol Stations and Supermarkets.
“The 26 yrs old Armed Robber popularly known as the “Blue Cloth Bandit”. Arrested last week Wednesday by the LAPD after 68 Armed Robberies
“Did a lavish Wedding very recently. Don’t envy the Rich & flamboyant people, whose source of income you don’t know.”
A Twitter user, Pusha P queried the correlation between the suspect’s arrest and his elaborate wedding.
In his own opinion, the wedding has nothing to do with the charges.
He said: “What does his wedding have to do with the charges on him? We’re quick to judge and condemn our own. Shey the people wey arrest and try to put all those charges on him are saints?”
His comment didn’t sit well with some tweeps.
A tweep, Justin Kaycee said: “The wedding has everything to do with the charges on him.
Someone is involved in 68 armed robbery incidents at 26 yrs of age then all he could think of is a lavish wedding ceremony. Do some of u actually think at all?”
According to @insidebaby_: “How do you people just open mouth to talk and nothing meaningful manages to come out of it?😂😂😂”
Citizen Kelvin tweeted: “This one na armed robber nothing you wan tell me, or you get armed robber for your family wey you dey cover for”
@legitboss44 also opined that: “Sometimes i sit and ask myself a question. How possible is it for man to make some excess money (not feeding money) without definitely doing something illegal?
Many billionaires got alot to answer.”
On her part, @vikky4_ wrote: “Heyyy!!! Ladies that typed God when then, it has turned to God how come oo😩😩. Not all that glitters is gold.”
Greek stated that: “They sha want to date the men that had already made it. There’s no room for an average young man trying to find love. Envy the rich but you have no idea what or how they live behind closed doors.”