Police strike a blow against crime

A HOST of stolen items have been recovered during Police operations at Walvis Bay and the rightful owners are urged to identify and claim their belongings at the Police station.

A special operation was launched after a number of businesses at the town had fallen prey to armed robbers in recent weeks. About 10 people were arrested during the last two weeks, of whom at least three were linked to the series of armed robberies while the others are suspected of being indirectly involved.Erongo Police Commissioner Andrew Iiyambo said an important breakthrough had also been made in the investigation of stock theft in the region’s rural areas.”We must thank the community for facilitating these arrests through providing us with information,” Iiyambo told a press briefing on Friday.”We urge you to please continue to assist us.We are willing to help anywhere and anytime, but we are not sniffer dogs that sniff out the criminals; our investigations are intelligence driven and we need information from the public to be as successful as we’ve been these last few weeks.”A group of criminals who recently returned to a certain house at Walvis Bay which they broke into a year ago were also caught.”They weren’t so lucky this time,” said Iiyambo.He appealed to residents not to contaminate the scene if they discovered they’d been burgled.”Please don’t move around in the area or touch items until the crime scene investigators arrive.If it’s absolutely necessary to touch something, use gloves.”Most of the stolen goods were recovered at a roadblock outside Swakopmund on Thursday night.They include several cameras and cellphones, digital organisers, jewellery, digital video cameras, a public announcement system, a television and a few wallets.About 10 people were arrested during the last two weeks, of whom at least three were linked to the series of armed robberies while the others are suspected of being indirectly involved.Erongo Police Commissioner Andrew Iiyambo said an important breakthrough had also been made in the investigation of stock theft in the region’s rural areas.”We must thank the community for facilitating these arrests through providing us with information,” Iiyambo told a press briefing on Friday.”We urge you to please continue to assist us.We are willing to help anywhere and anytime, but we are not sniffer dogs that sniff out the criminals; our investigations are intelligence driven and we need information from the public to be as successful as we’ve been these last few weeks.”A group of criminals who recently returned to a certain house at Walvis Bay which they broke into a year ago were also caught.”They weren’t so lucky this time,” said Iiyambo.He appealed to residents not to contaminate the scene if they discovered they’d been burgled.”Please don’t move around in the area or touch items until the crime scene investigators arrive.If it’s absolutely necessary to touch something, use gloves.”Most of the stolen goods were recovered at a roadblock outside Swakopmund on Thursday night.They include several cameras and cellphones, digital organisers, jewellery, digital video cameras, a public announcement system, a television and a few wallets.