01 Sep 2016

Six suspects were arrested for looting a truck that was involved in an accident near Kang village along Trans-Kgalagadi Highway on August 28.

The incident occurred when a horse and trailer truck with 32 pallets containing cartons of beer overturned on Sunday night.

The truck was travelling from Namibia destined for South Africa.

A press release from Botswana Police public relations office states that after the accident some residents of adjacent villages and motorists using the Trans-Kgalagadi road ransacked the truck before the police were alerted and almost everything from the truck was looted.

They will be charged with possession of suspected stolen property.

The release further notes that there have been many similar incidents whereby some members of the public looted from vehicles involved in road accidents.

In October 2013, the police had to use tear gas canisters to disperse hundreds of people who were stealing from a horse and trailer truck that was involved in an accident near Phuduhudu village along Trans-Kgalagadi Highway.

In another incident, a truck transporting sorghum grains from Pandamatenga was looted after it was involved in a road accident near Mathangwane last week Wednesday.

The police have noted with concern a tendency by some members of the public who steal from victims of road accidents.

“We would like to appeal to members of the public to desist from such conduct as it is a criminal offense and also taints the good image of the country,” it states. ENDS