Sweet deal goes sour

A failed attempt to steal a load of sugar from a Windhoek warehouse on Tuesday has landed three men behind bars.

The attempted theft of the as yet unspecified amount of sugar from Consolidated Sugar Industries in Windhoek’s Northern Industrial Area happened at around 23h00 on Tuesday.However, the bakkie used in the theft got stuck on a gravel road leading to the Okahandja Park informal settlement, and the suspects fled the scene on foot.Members of the City Police, who had been following the suspects from the start, yesterday rounded up an employee of the sugar company, a security guard stationed at the warehouse, and the owner of the Toyota Stallion bakkie used in the theft.A fourth suspect was still being sought at the time of going to press.The whistleblower in the incident was a second security guard at the warehouse, who alleged the suspects had tried unsuccessfully to coerce him into assisting with the theft. Two of the suspects were arrested following a police line-up at the warehouse yesterday, while the owner of the vehicle was arrested at the Windhoek Central Police Station by investigating officers. He had gone to Police to register his bakkie as having been stolen the night before, but was instead arrested.The bakkie owner admitted to having lent his car to the two other arrested men, along with a fourth suspect.The suspects will appear in the Windhoek Magistrates’ Court today.They cannot be named until after their first court appearance.denver@namibian.com.na