Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Adam Hartman
Published on 2024-03-08 09:47:37
Two men were apprehended on Tuesday for their involvement in the theft of brass rails from the Swakop River bridge outside Walvis Bay. Erongo police spokesperson, warrant officer Tuyenikelao Tashiya-Fernando, confirmed that the suspects, identified as James Hamukoto (26) and Vilho Kambwali (30), were found in possession of the stolen property on Tuesday. The suspects were accused of removing the rails by using a hammer to detach them between Monday and Tuesday. Fortunately, the authorities were able to recover four stolen brass pipes.
Tashiya-Fernando commended the diligent work of the police officers and the cooperation of the community in the successful capture of the suspects. She issued a stern warning to anyone contemplating similar criminal actions. Moses Mumbaru from Rubicon Security, one of the first responders to the theft, described the sequence of events leading to the culprits’ arrest.
He mentioned that they were alerted to the sound of tampering at the bridge around 01h00 and quickly responded by heading to the Swakop River bed under the bridge. The security officers heard the suspects attempting to remove the rails and eventually spotted them entering a bushy area. Mumbaru revealed that as the suspects approached, the guards emerged from the bushes and shone their flashlights on them. One of the suspects attempted to flee, prompting a warning shot to be fired.
Mumbaru expressed his belief that the theft was not an isolated incident and hinted at a well-organized operation with a ready market for stolen goods. The police were promptly notified, resulting in the arrest of Hamukoto and Kambwali. The suspects appeared in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court the following day and were remanded in custody with no bail granted. The investigation is ongoing, and the public is encouraged to provide any information that could aid in further arrests or identifying individuals or entities involved in purchasing stolen items.
Metal theft has become a growing concern for coastal towns, with reports of the railing from the Swakop River bridge being stolen for over a decade. In a separate incident, a section of the Erongo Regional Electricity Distributor powerline was targeted for theft near Rössing Mountain, leading to disruptions in radio frequencies. NamWater infrastructure has also experienced damage due to scrap metal theft in recent years.
The prevalence of metal theft highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the community to combat this criminal activity effectively. The public is urged to report any suspicious behavior or information related to metal theft to assist authorities in preventing further incidents. Metal theft not only poses a risk to public safety and infrastructure but also undermines the stability and security of communities.
Read the original article on The Namibian
