Police clamp down on firearm theft

THE value of firearms stolen from Police custody last year dropped for the first time since 2006 and stood at N$29 000, the lowest in five years.

Samuel /Gôagoseb, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Safety and Security, yesterday told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts that the amount decreased drastically after various measures were implemented by the Police.More than N$33 000 worth of firearms were stolen in 2006, increasing to N$47 888 the year after and jumping to N$53 823 in 2008. In 2009, the amount shot to N$332 860, /Gôagoseb said.Probably most of the thefts occurred when officers changed shifts, he said. No proper account was kept of firearms under an officer’s watch. The thefts were only noticed during inspection, /Gôagoseb said.According to /Gôagoseb, inspections have been beefed up and currently happen on a regular basis. All firearms have been computerised and all Police stations now have strongrooms.Furthermore, members of the Special Field Force guard Police stations around the clock, he said./Gôagoseb said the Arms and Ammunition Act will be amended to allow the Police to test all firearms so that bullets can be linked.