15 May 2019

Kanye Police Station commander, Superintendent Mmoloki Mogale has advised night watchmen to always be vigilant in their responsibilities as they are the custodians of the premises they guard.

Mr Mogale’s words followed a break-in incident at Seepapitso Senior Secondary School recently,  where the suspects are alleged to have gained access into four storerooms and a cold room at the refectory, and obtained food stock meant for the pupils.

He said it was regrettable that there were some watchmen on duty, who he said did not perform their duties diligently.

 “Expectation is that the security guard should be responsible for monitoring the interior and exterior of the facility and make sure that the premises are properly secured and report any suspicious activity to the Police immediately,” he said.

Mr Mogale, however, said they had arrested a 55-year-old man and his 35-year-old nephew in connection with the break-in.

He said they managed to make a breakthrough after a tip-off from a source that there was a van that  was suspiciously loading stuff at the refectory building.

He said his team managed to respond swiftly, and they confiscated the getaway vehicle, which the suspects abandoned and ran away when they saw the police.

He said the men returned later after the vehicle had been confiscated alleging that their vehicle was stolen.

“The suspect left the van and escaped, leaving the vehicle loaded with groceries, comprising of bags of samp, mealie meal, meat and vegetables,” he said.

He said investigations were ongoing to find other accomplices.

On a similar incident, which occurred recently at Lotlhakane East, police arrested two suspects for common theft, after they were caught drawing fuel from a van parked at the kgotla.

He said the van belonged to Panda, a company that specialises in brick moulding, operating at Dipotsana, around 15 kilometres  from Lotlhakane East.

He said the van normally parked at the kgotla, as it was used for ferrying workers who resided in the village to the site in Dipotsana.

According to Mr Mogale, the two men aged 51 and 25, who hail from Kanye, were confronted by the police while driving a Honda Fit car, which they abandoned when being confronted.

However, they were later caught.

 He said the police confiscated the car, which was loaded with eight empty 20-litre tanks, and one which was full.

He said they managed to trace the owner of the car, where they established that the car was rented, upon which the owner then produced the particulars of the individual who had rented it.

He said they then managed to arrest the person who had rented it and his accomplice.

He said the arrest was made possible through the assistance of the other suspect who had admitted to the crime, and revealed that he was accompanied by the other three, who were still at large.

Mr Mogale noted that the case was minor, as the fuel amounted to P200, as such the suspect would be tried at the customary court.

Mr Mogale encouraged the community to be on the lookout and keep a keen eye for suspecious occurrences.  ENDS