Four women aged between 32 and 44 of Maun and a 31 year old male taxi operator are helping Gumare police with investigations following theft of goods and clothes from three stores in Gumare.

In an interview, Gumare station commander, superintendent Phillip Lopang said preliminary investigations indicate that the five are suspected to have stolen goods and clothes valued at around P12 000 from Shoprite, Pep Store and CB stores in Gumare.

Supt Lopang said Gumare police were tipped about a taxi, which had left Maun with four men on an unscrupulous mission to Gumare on September 26.

He said the police looked out for the taxi, which they identified around 7pm near Shoprite complex.

Supt Lopang said the police followed the suspected taxi along Maun route around 8pm with four undistinguished women and ultimately stopped and searched it near Habu turn off.

The items found were food items and clothes, which bore tags from the three stores. Police investigations proved that the goods were stolen as the suspects failed to account for them.Although investigations are continuing, Supt Lopang said Shoprite goods are valued at about P10 000, CB Stores P1 100 and Pep Store P5 500.
The goods included food items, toiletry and clothes.
He said the five have appeared before Gumare magistrate court and will mention again on October 6 and are not remanded in custody. He said the taxi driver has maintained he was not part of the theft, but only offered his transport services for his customers ignorant of their mission.
However, Supt Lopang said it was for the court to rule out that possibility since such versions were common while one could be part of the syndicate.

In another matter, Gumare Police are investigating a murder incident, which resulted from a fight at Samotshoka cattle post. The fight emanated from an argument over the ride of horses without prior authority. Supt Lopang said three men aged between 26 and 33 were helping the police with investigations.

Meanwhile, Supt Lopang said his jurisdiction celebrated independence peacefully except for a few cases of misconduct of drinking liquor in prohibited areas.ENDS