SWAKOPMUND - The Erongo Police have arrested three of the seven men in connection with an armed robbery where the group ambushed two security guards and robbed them of money they were about to deposit in the bank in Karibib.

The incident occurred on Monday morning at 09h15, near Pep Stores, Hidipo Hamutenya Road. 

The police spokesperson in Erongo region, Inspector Ileni Shapumba said although they managed to arrest three suspects, four of the suspects are still at large.

According to Shapumba, the two security guards, employed by Alpha Security Services, had collected money from ErongoRED offices in Usakos and Karibib. 

They were about to enter the bank when they were attacked by six men armed with a knife. 

“They held the driver (guard) at knifepoint and assaulted his colleague at the back of his head with the service firearm, which they robbed from them. The suspects then robbed the two victims of two cellphones and three plastic money containers, two of which contained money belonging to ErongoRED. The containers held over N$24 000,” said Shapumba.

He further explained that the suspects also stabbed the front right tire of the security vehicle with a knife and fled in a red Polo. 

“We were alerted and caught up with some of the thieves. We managed to recover a gas pistol as well as a shotgun that was stolen from the security guards. The driver’s licence and three empty money containers were also recovered,” said Shapumba. 

Investigations revealed that the red Polo was a rental car and was found abandoned at Dennis plot about seven kilometres from Karibib towards Omaruru.

The second vehicle, a white Jetta belonging to one of the suspects, was located about two kilometres toward Omaruru.

In an unrelated incident, a Swakopmund couple lost valuable belongings during a robbery. According to Shapumba, four unknown men, all dressed in black clothes, and gloves and covering their faces with balaclavas, broke into an elderly couple’s office at home. 

“The suspects gained access through a window using a self-made ladder. They woke the couple up and demanded money. One of the suspects found the couple’s pistol in a drawer and took it,” Shapumba explained.

He further revealed that the suspects also demanded the safe keys, where the couple kept their rifles. 

They allegedly informed the couple that they only needed money. However, the suspects took cellphones, jewellery, electronics, and cash totalling about N$15 000. The couple was not injured during the robbery.

- edeklerk@nepc.com.na