26 Apr 2020

Two men appeared before Tsabong magistrate court on Thursday, 23 April for raiding a church recently.

In an interview, Tsabong Station commander, senior superintendent Christopher Tlhapi-David said the two accused persons aged 24 of Ikageng ward in Tsabong took advantage of the movement restriction as most people were at their homes.

The two men allegedly raided a church pastor’s home near the church while the pastor and his family were away, adding that the culprits stole a high definition television set, a DSTV and toiletry, all of which amounted to P8 700. 

He noted that the robbers, who were granted bail, took advantage of the fact that there was no security in the area.

However owing to the case circumstances, they did not meet the bail requirements and shall be held under custody at Lobatse Prison until May 28. 

Supt. Tlhapi-David said since the lockdown, Tsabong Police registered two housebreaks, one shop burglary and one church break-in.

Police investigations turned out that the occupants of those houses left before the lock down and the offenses were committed when there was no one inside and the police were informed of the break-ins by members of the community.

Nonetheless he said they reinforced security and had set roadblocks working collectively with Botswana Defense Force military Police to ensure that the community was safe and adhering to measures during the lock down.

 “We started enforcing social distancing on March15. We started our lockdown operation on April 2. So far we have searched 5 467 people, of which we have searched 4204 vehicles, 1263 were pedestrians. We have dealt with 49 people who were moving without permits,” he said.

The station commander said they recorded 13 cases of law offenders who defied the sale of liquor regulations by making home brewed traditional beers.

In some instances some were caught for not observing the prohibition of gathering regulation contravening the social distancing regulations. “Eleven of them were women while two were males. 11 paid their fines while two had been taken before a court of law for failure to pay,” he said.

He said stock theft cases had increased with four cases having been registered so far during the lockdown.

Two cattle and two donkeys were stolen in two separate incidents.  He attributed the rise in cases to the fact that people do not go to the cattle post regularly as they used to do before the lockdown. 

He said they have reinforced security and have set roadblocks working collectively with Botswana Defense Force military Police. Ends