A young man has been arrested at Kumasi Magazine after a botched attempt to steal a mobile phone while purchasing a vehicle starter.

Eyewitnesses say the suspect initially visited an auto-parts shop to buy a starter. During the transaction, he allegedly seized the opportunity to slip a mobile phone from the counter and hurriedly walk out.

The theft went unnoticed until the shop owner later reviewed CCTV footage and discovered that the customer had pocketed the device before leaving.

In an unexpected twist, the suspect returned to the same shop a few hours later to complain that the starter he had bought was faulty and needed to be replaced.

Upon recognising him, the shop owner confronted him and raised an alarm. Bystanders quickly intervened and detained the man.

He was subsequently handed over to police officers stationed in the area.