Several callers to the NBC Damara-Nama radio service recently indicated there was a new trend of metal theft in the Erongo Region's rural areas, especially at Spitzkoppe, Uis, Okombahe and Otjimbingwe.

It is alleged that the thieves remove steel fencing wire, corrugated iron and other forms of metal from farms and smaller settlements.

The loot is believed to be sold at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Alex Maletsky, who has family and friends at Otjimbingwe and Spitzkoppe, told The Namibian that theft takes place on a daily basis, and even tin shacks are torn down and sold for N$150.

"Just like the copper, steel and iron in general are becoming popular metals among the thieves," Maletsky said.

He said companies buying scrap metal should start registering the names and products of those it buys from to curb the theft.

Spitzkoppe Chief Benjamin Naruseb told The Namibian that he knew of cases where metal was removed from farms and abandoned sites, but added that the looters did not necessarily want to sell the material.

They used it for their own purposes, he said.

He said wire and metal poles were particularly popular, although these would be taken from places that were not in use any longer.

"There's no real source of steel around these areas, except on the farms.

It's also usually those working on the farms that are guilty of taking from the farm property," he said.

"The big problem is more the theft of copper wire."

According to Police sources at Walvis Bay, the theft of metal other than copper is not very common, although there may be isolated cases.

A local scrap metal dealer said metals such as iron and steel were sold for N$1 per kilogramme.

He said people often offered these metals for sale, but they were usually "white farmers" who wanted to get rid of old material after renovations.

He said when people brought in metal weighing more than 150 kg they were questioned on the origin of the material, and their names and copies of their identification documents were kept.

"We always do this in case of possible later inquiries," he said.

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