The police in Omusati have warned vehicle owners to be vigilant and employ all possible protection measures to protect their vehicles from being stolen.
This warning comes hot on the heels of a spate of vehicle theft incidences that rocked the region in the past weeks.
The latest incident involved a Toyota Land Cruiser pickup that was stolen last week in Outapi town. The vehicle is not yet recovered and it is believed to have been driven into neighbouring Angola.
Omusati police spokesperson Senior Inspector Anna Kunga thus warned members of the public and vehicle owners to be vigilant and employ measures that would ensure their valued vehicles are not stolen.
“We have recorded a number of vehicle theft incidents in the region as of recent weeks. There is a gang of criminals operating in the region and is targeting vehicle owners,” said Kunga.
“So, I want to warn all vehicle owners to be careful, especially when parking their cars.”
Kunga also encouraged vehicle owners to always check their surroundings after parking their vehicles at home to ensure there are no suspicious characters or movements.
“One thing we have also picked up is that sometimes a person can just park and disembark from a vehicle and enter their home without even checking their surroundings.
“Sometimes a person or intruder can even enter the house or yard at the same time the vehicle is entering. They can be hiding somewhere just waiting for the owner of the car to disappear and then they would wait until night time to steal the car,” said Kunga.
“As the police, we are requesting victims of car thefts to report the incidences timely for the police to make a prompt response.”
Many vehicles that are stolen in the northern regions are driven into Angola where there is a lucrative market for stolen vehicles. Some are sold whilst others are stripped of parts which are sold separately.
In July last year, the Angolan authorities handed over six vehicles to their Namibian counterparts. The vehicles were recovered by the Angolan police after they were driven into the country by criminal gangs.
In the photo: A Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most sought-after vehicles in Angola.
