Police have apprehended one of the two young men involved in the brazen daylight burglary of a family-owned store in Moamoa-Fou last week. 

The arrested suspect, an 18-year-old resident of Moamoa and Vaipu'a, faces charges of theft, burglary, and vandalism of property belonging to others. 

He is currently in custody awaiting his first court appearance scheduled for May 27. This information was confirmed by Police Commissioner Auapa'au Logoitino Filipo in response to inquiries from this newspaper.

Police are still pursuing their investigation to find the other suspect in this matter. 

The incident, which took place last Wednesday, shocked the local community as two masked individuals, dressed in black, forcibly entered the store and made off with the cash register containing nearly $2,000. 

The swift and daring nature of the robbery left shop employee Kovati I'u shaken and fearful, highlighting a troubling trend of increasing criminal activity in Samoa.

Mrs. I'u, a mother of two residing in Alamagoto, recounted the harrowing experience, expressing disbelief that such violence could occur in their close-knit community. Although physically unharmed, the psychological impact on Mrs. I'u and her family is profound.

Speaking anonymously, the shop's proprietor echoed Mrs. I'u's sentiments, grappling with the harsh reality of Samoa's changing security landscape. "Samoa is no longer the safe haven it once was if such brazen acts persist," she lamented. "We were blindsided by this unfortunate incident and are still coming to terms with the fact that it happened here."

The proprietor emphasized the need for heightened vigilance among businesses in Samoa, acknowledging the wake-up call prompted by the burglary. Despite the monetary loss, she expressed gratitude that her hardworking employee was unharmed, attributing it partly to the security cameras installed inside the shop. Plans are underway to enhance surveillance with additional cameras outside the premises to deter future criminal activity.

Reflecting on the ordeal, the proprietor asserted their readiness to defend the shop against any future threats. "We have learned from this experience and are now better prepared," she declared defiantly. "I challenge anyone to try such an attack again. We are vigilant and equipped to protect our establishment."

On a separate incident, the suspect wanted by police in a shooting incident that occurred in Vailoa over two weeks ago is still at large.