84 rural water meters stolen in the North

OSHAKATI – The water utility NamWater suffered a setback in northern Namibia after criminals stole 84 water meters between Ondangwa, Oshakati and Ogongo last week.

Constable Slogan Matheus of Police at Oshakati told Nampa that NamWater officials have registered a criminal case in connection with the theft. Matheus said the theft of the meters, valued at N$42 000, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.The same tyre tracks were found at all the crime scenes.The culprits removed the meters professionally, as no water was wasted in the process, investigators found.The stolen meters are those used to measure the water consumption of rural communities and individuals who are supplied with water from the NamWater main pipeline leading from Ogongo via Oshakati to Ondangwa.According to an announcement by Moses Shakela of NamWater, the affected communities will be without water until the company replaces all the stolen meters.Each meter is estimated to cost about N$500.It is the first time that NamWater has experienced the theft of so many water meters at once.It is believed that the thieves targeted the meters with the purpose of selling them, possibly to scrapyards because of their high copper content.Nothing was recovered and Police investigations continue, Matheus said.NampaMatheus said the theft of the meters, valued at N$42 000, took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.The same tyre tracks were found at all the crime scenes.The culprits removed the meters professionally, as no water was wasted in the process, investigators found.The stolen meters are those used to measure the water consumption of rural communities and individuals who are supplied with water from the NamWater main pipeline leading from Ogongo via Oshakati to Ondangwa.According to an announcement by Moses Shakela of NamWater, the affected communities will be without water until the company replaces all the stolen meters.Each meter is estimated to cost about N$500.It is the first time that NamWater has experienced the theft of so many water meters at once.It is believed that the thieves targeted the meters with the purpose of selling them, possibly to scrapyards because of their high copper content.Nothing was recovered and Police investigations continue, Matheus said.Nampa