More computers stolen

THE Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare this week became the latest victim in a string of computer thefts that have plagued companies and Government offices in the capital since July.

As in previous cases, the thieves apparently concentrated on recently acquired laptops and flat-screen monitors, sources at the ministry said. Judging from the scene at the Trust Centre where the ministry’s head office is situated, the suspects appear to have driven up to the second-floor parking area, where they broke open the back door with an unknown object.They then ransacked a number of offices on the second, third, fourth and eighth floors before making their getaway without attracting any attention.Police noted yesterday that the thieves had turned security cameras inside the building away from their monitoring positions before embarking on their mission.A source at the ministry said yesterday that the electronic key to the parking lot had not been functioning for some time.Ministry spokesperson Norbert Shithigona confirmed this speculation.”They must have driven up to the second floor and parked their car here,” he said, referring to the broken back door.Four laptops, five monitors, two computer boxes, a video projector, and an electronic “education box” were stolen.One of the laptops belonged to Gender Minister Marlene Mungunda, Shithigona said.The offices of the Ministry of Justice were also burgled late last month.The thieves broke into the office of Deputy Minister Utoni Nujoma, stealing a laptop, an iPod music player and two cellphones from there.Other premises that have fallen prey to similar thefts include the national trade union offices and the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, both in Katutura, the Khomas Regional Council, the NBC radio station, and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.The only recorded Police success in this series of thefts happened in early August, when four men were caught red-handed with computer equipment allegedly stolen from the Ministry of Environment’s science department.Besides the items found in the car the four had been driving, Police reported that more items were found stored at a Government-owned house in Windhoek’s Lazarett Street.All four men were granted bail during their first court appearance, and are scheduled to return to court in November.Judging from the scene at the Trust Centre where the ministry’s head office is situated, the suspects appear to have driven up to the second-floor parking area, where they broke open the back door with an unknown object.They then ransacked a number of offices on the second, third, fourth and eighth floors before making their getaway without attracting any attention.Police noted yesterday that the thieves had turned security cameras inside the building away from their monitoring positions before embarking on their mission.A source at the ministry said yesterday that the electronic key to the parking lot had not been functioning for some time.Ministry spokesperson Norbert Shithigona confirmed this speculation.”They must have driven up to the second floor and parked their car here,” he said, referring to the broken back door.Four laptops, five monitors, two computer boxes, a video projector, and an electronic “education box” were stolen.One of the laptops belonged to Gender Minister Marlene Mungunda, Shithigona said.The offices of the Ministry of Justice were also burgled late last month.The thieves broke into the office of Deputy Minister Utoni Nujoma, stealing a laptop, an iPod music player and two cellphones from there.Other premises that have fallen prey to similar thefts include the national trade union offices and the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court, both in Katutura, the Khomas Regional Council, the NBC radio station, and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.The only recorded Police success in this series of thefts happened in early August, when four men were caught red-handed with computer equipment allegedly stolen from the Ministry of Environment’s science department.Besides the items found in the car the four had been driving, Police reported that more items were found stored at a Government-owned house in Windhoek’s Lazarett Street. All four men were granted bail during their first court appearance, and are scheduled to return to court in November.