Cops foil attempted robbery at airport at Walvis Bay

FOUR men were arrested on Thursday night after the Walvis Bay Police responded to a tip-off about a planned robbery at Walvis Bay airport.

Chief Inspector Sydney Philander told The Namibian that the Police positioned themselves at various locations around the airport. All the officers were equipped and ready for a confrontation, as the information they received suggested that the suspects would be armed and dangerous.He said the suspects arrived just before 22h00, but appeared nervous, returned to their vehicle and drove away fast.Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the four suspects.According to the Police, the vehicle was unlicensed and the men were in possession of an unlicensed pistol and a crowbar.”Whether they did commit the robbery or not, they obviously intended to.It was our hope to catch them red-handed, but obviously they sensed their plans would be sabotaged by us.Thanks to the tip-off from the public, we were at the targeted location, hence able to arrest them,” Philander said.The men, who are all Namibian citizens between the ages of 25 and 41, were due to appear in the Walvis Bay’s Magistrate Court yesterday.The charges against them were expected to include attempted robbery, housebreaking, trespassing, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of housebreaking equipment and driving an unlicensed vehicle.* The Police reported yesterday that two Mariental residents fell victim to armed robbers in two separate incidents last week.On Wednesday night, Paul Kapuka was robbed at Gambling House.He was assaulted and robbed of cash and his shoes.No recovery or arrest has been made.On Thursday, another Mariental resident, Kenly Herero, was robbed in similar fashion near the Roman Catholic Church at the town.The perpetrators stole N$190 in cash he had on him.All the officers were equipped and ready for a confrontation, as the information they received suggested that the suspects would be armed and dangerous.He said the suspects arrived just before 22h00, but appeared nervous, returned to their vehicle and drove away fast.Police stopped the vehicle and arrested the four suspects.According to the Police, the vehicle was unlicensed and the men were in possession of an unlicensed pistol and a crowbar.”Whether they did commit the robbery or not, they obviously intended to.It was our hope to catch them red-handed, but obviously they sensed their plans would be sabotaged by us.Thanks to the tip-off from the public, we were at the targeted location, hence able to arrest them,” Philander said.The men, who are all Namibian citizens between the ages of 25 and 41, were due to appear in the Walvis Bay’s Magistrate Court yesterday.The charges against them were expected to include attempted robbery, housebreaking, trespassing, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of housebreaking equipment and driving an unlicensed vehicle.* The Police reported yesterday that two Mariental residents fell victim to armed robbers in two separate incidents last week.On Wednesday night, Paul Kapuka was robbed at Gambling House.He was assaulted and robbed of cash and his shoes.No recovery or arrest has been made.On Thursday, another Mariental resident, Kenly Herero, was robbed in similar fashion near the Roman Catholic Church at the town.The perpetrators stole N$190 in cash he had on him.