In a bizarre twist of fate, a man was arrested on Saturday morning in a Nova Iguaçu shopping center for trying to sell a stolen cell phone to its rightful owner—a senior citizen. The phone had been stolen in December of the previous year, and since then, the elderly woman had reported the theft to the authorities. However, she was later contacted by the thief, who demanded money for the return of her phone, including a request for a reward.

Upon receiving this unsettling message, the woman reported the situation to the local police station, the 58th Police District (DP). Following the officers' advice, she set up a meeting with the suspect at the shopping center where he intended to finalize the transaction. In a coordinated operation, undercover officers were present to assist the elderly woman; they witnessed her recognize her phone, which led to the immediate arrest of the man on site.

The man was charged with extortion and is currently in custody at the 58th DP, awaiting legal proceedings. This incident underscores the unfortunate risks of crime victims being further victimized by their perpetrators, as well as the importance of police collaboration in ensuring justice and safety for individuals in the community.