Niël Terblanché
ARMED robbers in different parts of Namibia are targeting Chinese nationals who keep large amounts of money and other valuables at their homes and businesses.
During an incident of aggravated armed robbery in Ondangwa, the owner of Exclusive Tile CC situated in Ondjondjo was attacked by two security guards that were supposed to guard the business against criminal elements.
According to the incident report provided by the Public Relations Division of the Namibian Police, the armed robbery occurred at about 13:56 on Saturday.
“It is alleged that two security guards employed by the Triple 111 Security Company attacked the 51-year-old Chinese owner of Exclusive Tiles CC and held him at gunpoint with a pistol while they were still on duty,” the incident report reads.
The robbers overpowered the complainant in his room at the business premises and used their service handcuffs and rope to tie the complainant up and demanded money from him.
The suspects managed to steal N$150 000 in cash that they found inside the business owner’s living quarters and also ransacked the office where they found N$1 800 in cash.
According to the incident report, the robbers left the business owner tied up in his room and went to their duty room where they changed out of their uniforms and left the firearms, and remaining pair of handcuffs behind.
Before leaving the business the robbers also removed the hard drive on which the closed-circuit camera footage is stored and fled the scene of their crime.
During an incident in Windhoek on Thursday evening between 19:00 and midnight five armed men overpowered a Chinese couple and their security guard in a house they were staying in.
According to the incident report, the security guard is in the employ of G4S and the guard along with the Chinese couple, who have a little baby, was tied up with rope by the five armed men after they gained entrance to the house.
“After the victims were tied up, the robbers ransacked the premises and took a large variety of valuables items which include a flatscreen television set, cellular phones, cash in various denominations, a large number of wine bottles, bottles of spirits, a pistol, boxes of bullets for a hunting rifle, boxes of cigars, and boxes of cigarettes to name but a few,” the incident report reads.
According to the report, the value of the items that were stolen by the robbers still have be determined. The valuation can only be done once the owner of the house returns from Hong Kong.
None of the items or money stolen during both incidents has been recovered and no suspect has been arrested yet.
