Computer thieves strike with impunity

THE spate of computer thefts that have plagued Windhoek residents since last year resumed with a vengeance over the weekend after a lull last month during the Police’s special ‘Operation Spider Web’.

At least three businesses and one home were broken into between Sunday and Monday by thieves targeting computer equipment. The most recent of these thefts happened on Monday night at the Windhoek Net Café in John Meinert Street.The thieves entered through the roof, Net Café manager Jeffrey Nangoloh said yesterday.They managed to get on top of the roof despite electric fencing all around, and made a hole in the corrugated-iron roof sheet.From there, one of the thieves cut a hole in the ceiling right above the alarm system, disabled the alarm and made another hole through which they climbed down into the internet café.The suspects stole 15 computers with flat-screen monitors, a camcorder, a digital camera and an unspecified number of prepaid cellphone credit vouchers.The thieves apparently left through the front door.Nangoloh estimates the combined value of the stolen items at between N$80 000 and N$85 000.Although his losses are likely to be eventually refunded by insurance, Nangoloh says his main concern is the loss of business the perpetrators have cost him.”We’re looking at at least the rest of the week before we can get back up,” he said, adding that the shop usually makes around N$8 000 to N$9 000 in a normal business week.”There were some guys in here over the weekend who looked a bit scavenger (sic).It just must’ve been them.They must’ve been checking the place out,” he said.Police reported two similar burglaries in Windhoek on Sunday – at Coztek Distributors and Consulting Engineers.At Coztek the thieves stole about N$55 000 worth of equipment, including computers, cameras and petty cash.Consulting Engineers in Klein Windhoek lost approximately N$70 000 worth of assets, including three desktop computers and a flat-screen monitor.It is understood that a ready market is available for stolen computer equipment, not only in Namibia but also in neighbouring countries.The Police said last month that the ease of transporting computer equipment, added to the fact that computers are so common, has made this a lucrative avenue for thieves to explore.The most recent of these thefts happened on Monday night at the Windhoek Net Café in John Meinert Street.The thieves entered through the roof, Net Café manager Jeffrey Nangoloh said yesterday.They managed to get on top of the roof despite electric fencing all around, and made a hole in the corrugated-iron roof sheet.From there, one of the thieves cut a hole in the ceiling right above the alarm system, disabled the alarm and made another hole through which they climbed down into the internet café.The suspects stole 15 computers with flat-screen monitors, a camcorder, a digital camera and an unspecified number of prepaid cellphone credit vouchers.The thieves apparently left through the front door.Nangoloh estimates the combined value of the stolen items at between N$80 000 and N$85 000.Although his losses are likely to be eventually refunded by insurance, Nangoloh says his main concern is the loss of business the perpetrators have cost him.”We’re looking at at least the rest of the week before we can get back up,” he said, adding that the shop usually makes around N$8 000 to N$9 000 in a normal business week. “There were some guys in here over the weekend who looked a bit scavenger (sic).It just must’ve been them.They must’ve been checking the place out,” he said.Police reported two similar burglaries in Windhoek on Sunday – at Coztek Distributors and Consulting Engineers.At Coztek the thieves stole about N$55 000 worth of equipment, including computers, cameras and petty cash.Consulting Engineers in Klein Windhoek lost approximately N$70 000 worth of assets, including three desktop computers and a flat-screen monitor.It is understood that a ready market is available for stolen computer equipment, not only in Namibia but also in neighbouring countries.The Police said last month that the ease of transporting computer equipment, added to the fact that computers are so common, has made this a lucrative avenue for thieves to explore.