Spate of armed robberies rock Omaruru-area

Sharlien Tjambari and Eileen van der Schyff

A series of armed robberies in Omaruru over the last week came as a huge shock to the town’s residents and follows only days after an elderly lady was overpowered, raped and robbed of her belongings. The public, specifically residents of Omaruru and the surrounding areas, are urged to come forward with information that can lead to the arrest of these armed robbers.

The first incident happened at a well-known Game Lodge in Omaruru when a Swiss couple with Namibian permanent residence was woken by two men armed with a knife and a traditional weapon. The incident allegedly happened in the morning hours of Saturday, 12 January between 01:00 and 02:00. The culprits removed the window from its aluminium frame to gain entry to the room where the couple was sleeping. The robbers fled with N$1 000 cash, a wallet, a handbag, a leather vest, a brown jacket, a tobacco bag and pipe, a Rolex golden watch, valued at N$350 000 and two iPhones. The alleged value of all items stolen is N$418 000. None of the items were recovered and investigation by the Tourist Protection Special Division continues.
On the same day, at 22:00, a 48-year-old man was alone on his plot outside of Omaruru when four men with balaclavas and firearms, gained entry into his property. The man allegedly forgot to lock his security gate and the robbers gained entry into his house.
The robbers held the man at gunpoint and tied the 48-year-old victims’ arms and legs. The four thugs fled the scene with N$1 800 in cash, a black Acer laptop, valued at N$5 000, a Samsung J2, a Samsung J3, a blue Breitling watch, valued at N$30 000, a Casio Ediface watch valued at N$3 000, a German watch, two ebony handle knives, Calvin Klein aftershave and the keys and remote to the victims Toyota Camry.
The total value of items stolen is N$54 600. None on the stolen items have been recovered yet. No arrests have been made.
Also, at Omaruru, on Thursday, 10 January at around 22:45, a man broke the lock of a door and gained entrance to a house where a 75-year-old woman lives. He overpowered her and tied her up. The robber fled the scene with a pair of 14 carat gold earrings, a petrified 18 carat tooth with a diamond, three golden necklaces, a grey paste necklace, a green paste necklace and a variety of other jewellery, two Kruger Rand coins, 25 different Euro notes and various collected coins. The total value of all items stolen is N$200 000.
None of the stolen items have been recovered. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with any information on the above robberies or with information is requested to contact Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu at 081 246 4757 or Deputy Inspector Litota at 081 256 5757. You can also report the information at your nearest police station.