23 Dec 2023

Theft has always been a major issue at large scale festivals. Car break-ins are a common occurrence, but perhaps the most prominent is pickpocketing.

In an interview with BOPA on Saturday, following Born and Raised Music Festival in Serowe, Serowe Police Station commander, Supt Poloko Oteng said that though there were no cases of loss of lives, which sometimes mar events, pick pocketing was of great concern. Cellphones were the main target with 34 reported stolen at the gig.

Supt Oteng said police confiscated 35 cellphones that were linked to pick pocketing during the carnival, hence the police were advising those missing their phones to come forward.

Eight people managed to identify their cellphones while some might still not be aware that theirs were missing, Supt Oteng said.

He did not rule out the possibility that more cellphones might have been stolen at the event and more reports yet to reach their office.

Supt Oteng said 11 suspects aged between 17 and 35 were in police custody, in connection with cell phone theft that happened during the carnival.

Some of them were armed with knives that could have been used to threaten victims before they were robbed, Supt Oteng said, adding that they would be charged with possession of offensive weapons.

Still at the event, Supt Oteng said two people were found in possession of Methcathinone or CAT and cash amounting to more than P5 400 during a stop and search exercise.

“The police are yet to establish if the money was proceeds from selling those harmful habit forming substances” said Supt Oteng.

He also said the police impounded a vehicle believed to have been linked to collecting stolen valuables such as cellphones, which when searched, stolen items such as wallets were discovered.

Supt Oteng advised revellers to refrain from carrying expensive cellphones and other valuables when they ho out at night. Ends