“14 Years for a Phone? Maybe the Real Theft Is What We’re Prioritizingâ€
A few months ago, I was walking home after grabbing a late-night waakye near my area. You know how it is — headphones in, phone in hand, scrolling through Twitter like the world would end if I didn’t see one more meme. Then out of nowhere, this guy whizzes past on a motorbike, almost snatching my phone. Missed it by inches. I stood there stunned, heart pounding, food forgotten. That was the moment I realized — we don't just carry phones anymore. We carry targets.
So hearing that a man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for robbing someone of an iPhone 16? It hit different. I mean, wow. That’s a whole lifetime in some people’s eyes. All for a device that’ll probably have a "Pro Max Ultra" version next year.
Now, don’t get me wrong. What the guy did was wrong — full stop. Robbery, especially with violence, is scary and traumatic. No excuses there. The victim could’ve been seriously hurt (or worse), and honestly, people should feel safe walking with their gadgets. But still… 14 years?
That’s where it gets tricky for me.
Because we’ve seen politicians steal millions and walk away with a smile and a handshake. We’ve watched powerful people exploit systems, abuse trust, and dodge consequences like they’re playing a game of Temple Run. But let one broke, desperate guy snatch a shiny new iPhone — and boom, justice slams the hammer down with full force.
I may be wrong, but it feels like sometimes we punish poverty harder than we punish corruption.
And I get it — phones are expensive. An iPhone 16 probably costs more than some used cars. But it’s still just a phone. Meanwhile, people steal futures and walk free every election cycle.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think this whole situation says more about us than about him. We’ve gotten so used to measuring crime by material things — not by impact, not by fairness, not by context. Just… value. Price tag. Retail worth.
I wonder — if the guy had stolen a regular "yam phone", would he still get 14 years? Or would we just call it petty theft and move on?
At the end of the day, I don’t have all the answers. Crime deserves consequences, yes. But also… compassion. Context. A bit of humanity.
So here's my question: are we really building a just society if the weight of justice depends on the brand of the item stolen?
Or have we just started worshiping the things we can buy — instead of the people we could become?