By: Eba Kandovazu
The police in Omusati region have confirmed that one of the two men who were arrested for breaking into a house and stealing guns from a safe was part of the group of construction workers who built it.
Omusati Chief Inspector Lineekela Shikongo said the incident happened on Monday around 00h00. According to him, the owner of the house, one Titus Shoolongela, works in Windhoek, and only the female domestic worker was around when the thieves broke into the house at Okathitu B in Otamanzi constituency.
Festus Shilumbu, 21, and Sam Paulus, 19, both appeared in court and have been denied bail.
“They knew exactly where to go. They went straight to the bedroom of the owner’s house and went to the safe. We believe that their main intention was to steal the Baikal shotgun. They also, however, took seven rounds of live ammunition, a gas cylinder cooker and one solar panel. The domestic worker was asleep when it all happened, and she did not hear anything. She only discovered that something was amiss the following morning, he said.
Shikongo said the value of the stolen items is N$16,326.50 and that they do not know what the suspects used to gain entrance. Only the gun and ammunition have been recovered thus far. He added that the suspects were arrested around 11 am the same day with the assistance of public members after tracing their footsteps from the said Okathitu village to the neighbouring Onanyalala village.
“We found them in the house of the suspect Paulus’ house. The other suspect, Shilumbu, is from Onakapya village in Uuvudhiya constituency. Our investigations are continuing,” Shikongo said.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Omusati regional commander commissioner Ismael Basson said an intensive crime prevention operation will start on Thursday and end on Saturday.
“We are starting with a night shift today, then we will have a day and night shift tomorrow and Saturday,” Basson stated.
Shikongo said he urges public cooperation in successfully implementing the operation.
