05 Apr 2020

The need to quench alcohol thirst landed five men in trouble after they broke into Savannah bar in Kasane and stole various alcohol beverages. 
Kasane police station commander, Superintendent James Maabong confirmed in an interview that the five men, who are in custody, broke into the liquor store April04 taking advantage of power cut by Botswana Power Corporation due to power maintenance.  

He said the five men were arrested drunk at Kgapamadi ward in Kasane and some of the liquor was recovered from them.
He said police preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects jumped over the boundary wall and gained entrance into the bar through the window. “It was difficult for passerby to notice them because the bar is screened walled and as such they did as they wish because nobody could notice them,” he added. 
He advised people, especially those who take alcohol to comply with 28-day lock down regulations saying, ‘Ke kopa gore ba itshware, be patient and self-discipline during this difficult situation is the only solution to stay out of trouble,’ he said.  

Superintendent Maabong said police investigation into the case were on-going, adding Kgapamadi ward was giving police a ‘headache’ because of high number of criminal activities recorded in the area. “We will put a close eye on this ward because most of the criminal activities do happen here,” he added. 
Still on a related matter he said they were investigating a case in which some people broke into Mowana Safari Lodge and stole two television screens recently. He said thieves gained entrance by breaking the doors of two hotel rooms. 

He however, said they failed to steal another television set in another room after being disturbed by on duty security officers. 
Superintendent Maabong explained that the following day, there was also another attempted break-in at the same hotel but the thugs were interrupted by the police who were on night patrol.
He said the police traced footprints to the Chobe River bank.
Superintendent Maabong said the suspects, who are still at large, might be from Namibia, adding that police had observed a new trend of thieves targeting businesses especially those on the banks of the Chobe River.

He said following the three incidents, police intensified patrols in conjunction with members of the Botswana Defence Force using boats. He said thieves seemed to be taking advantage of the lockdown as hotels were empty.  

He appealed to members of the community to work hand in hand with the police to fight crime and provide any information that may lead to arrests of the suspects. Superintendent Maabong said Kasane was calm since the lock down on April 2 midnight. Ends