Police deals Omaruru crime spree a crushing blow – five robbery suspects nabbed

Eileen van der Schyff

Criminals were in for a hard time at Omaruru the past week, with a total of nine suspects arrested by a special task team for a spate of robberies and housebreakings that took place in short succession between 8 and 15 January.

Five of the suspects are linked to the three robberies. Four more suspects were a bonus to the investigation team as three were apprehended for drug possession, grabbing a cell phone from a female victim and the fourth was found in possession of property stolen during a house-breaking at Karibib earlier.
These arrests dealt a crushing blow to the crime wave that hit Omaruru early the New Year. All suspects made first appearances in the magistrate’s court at Omaruru.
In a report the Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator of the Namibian Police in Erongo, Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu explained the Regional Commander sent a special team comprising experienced police officers from different units and sub-divisions to Omaruru.
Among the robbery suspects arrested were Petrus Hangula (39) years old male. He was detained at Otjiwarongo. He still had a cellphone stolen during one of the robberies still in his possession. Soon after the arrest of Hangula two more robbery arrests followed: Joseph Shikongo (42) and Simon Nelundu Shilongo (41) years-old N/male. Most of the items stolen during the one robbery was found with them including a revolver also stolen during the robbery. The two other suspects are yet to be named.
The other arrests include: Thaley Tjiondo (43) was found in possession of cannabis and one Mandrax tablet. He was found guilty of drug possession in the meantime and sentenced.
The second suspect, Charlison Useb (28) was found in possession of crack cocaine and 315 ballies of cannabis. The arrest was made in Dr Ian Schee-pers Street at Omaruru. The total value of the drugs was calculated at N$4 680. The other three suspects were also not yet named.