2013-10-11Staff Report 2 WINDHOEK – The police in the Otjozondjupa Region are offering a N$50 000 cash reward for information that will lead to the arrest of four robbers, who were apparently armed with toy pistols. Three men posing as security guards robbed the GRS Security Services cash-in-transit crew at gunpoint, walking away with N$818 000 in cash last Saturday. The robbers were wearing company uniforms. The cash had been collected at three shops in Grootfontein, including Botma Trading Supermarket, Grootfontein Super Spar and Woerman Brock shop. Nampol’s Otjozondjupa Regional Crime Investigations Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Khairabeb, told New Era that the robbers were dressed in uniforms similar to that of the security guards and armed only with empty teargas cannisters, the guards were easy pickings it turned out. A preliminary investigation indicate that the alleged armed robbers were only armed with black plastic pistols and their wits. The three men were accompanied by a fourth one, who appeared to have been the getaway driver. They escaped in a black Golf GTI with no registration plates. Police have reason to believe that the robbery might have been an inside job. “There have been new developments in the investigation since Saturday acting on a tip off officers searched a house in Tsumeb, but unfortunately it was a dead end. We are broadening our search to the north-eastern parts of the country, because we have reason to believe the suspects might be in Rundu,” said Khairabeb. According to Khairabeb the guards did not even look at the faces of their attackers out of fear, the only leads the police have is the number of suspects, the amount of money stolen and the getaway vehicle. “We are still investigating and at this point we are completely relying on the help of the public.” He also told New Era road blocks were placed on all roads leading out of Grootfontein and so far none have yielded any positive results. Police at the Murulani gate managed to stop a vehicle matching the description of the one in which the robbers are alleged to have escaped, however this vehicle had registration plates, while its only occupant was a female driver. Following a thorough search of the vehicle, which produced nothing police allowed the woman to proceed after taking down all necessary information. By John Travolter Matali 2013-10-11Staff Report 2
