Coastal burglary headache
Incidents of housebreaking remain a concern for the police in Walvis Bay.
Some 76 housebreaking cases were reported in Walvis Bay town for the months of June (34), July (22) and August (20) this year.
Goods with a combined value of N$1 846 295 were stolen and goods valued at N$108 645 were recovered. The incidence of housebreaking has increased slightly but remains high as 73 cases were reported for the same period in 2016.
According to the Walvis Bay's police commander Chief Inspector Patrick Muhita, even though the overall number of cases of crime reported decreased, cases of housebreaking are still not stable and pose a great challenge.
Muhita listed limited resources and lack of manpower as challenges faced by the police to combat the scourge of housebreakings in the Walvis Bay town area.
He said strong partnerships between the police and neighbourhood watch groups and more neighbourhood watch groups were needed in different areas of the town to combat this.
“The economic situation has affected the ministry and resources are low. There are times when there is no petrol for our patrol vessels and this resulted in a decrease in the number of hours patrol vehicles are on the streets. We also do not have enough manpower. The number of members has not been increased. There has not been any recruitment over the past two years. The population though, is increasing steadily.”
Crime statistics provided by Muhita shows 308 cases were reported and 115 arrests were made for June, July and August 2016 compared to 265 cases reported and 78 arrests made for the same period this year.
The number of ATM fraud and fraud-related cases reported increased from 22 to 33 while assault GBH cases increased from 10 to 11.
The number of domestic violence cases decreased from two to one and the number of assault cases dropped from 32 to six. Theft also decreased from 119 to 90. Theft out of motor vehicles decreased from 30 to seven and drunk driving cases from 41 to 32.
Muhita attributed the achieved success to the partnership between the police and neighbourhood watch groups, information sharing on crime hotspots in Walvis Bay and the visibility of police officers and patrol vehicles.
He also said monthly stop-and-search operations provided some breakthroughs.
OTIS FINCK
Some 76 housebreaking cases were reported in Walvis Bay town for the months of June (34), July (22) and August (20) this year.
Goods with a combined value of N$1 846 295 were stolen and goods valued at N$108 645 were recovered. The incidence of housebreaking has increased slightly but remains high as 73 cases were reported for the same period in 2016.
According to the Walvis Bay's police commander Chief Inspector Patrick Muhita, even though the overall number of cases of crime reported decreased, cases of housebreaking are still not stable and pose a great challenge.
Muhita listed limited resources and lack of manpower as challenges faced by the police to combat the scourge of housebreakings in the Walvis Bay town area.
He said strong partnerships between the police and neighbourhood watch groups and more neighbourhood watch groups were needed in different areas of the town to combat this.
“The economic situation has affected the ministry and resources are low. There are times when there is no petrol for our patrol vessels and this resulted in a decrease in the number of hours patrol vehicles are on the streets. We also do not have enough manpower. The number of members has not been increased. There has not been any recruitment over the past two years. The population though, is increasing steadily.”
Crime statistics provided by Muhita shows 308 cases were reported and 115 arrests were made for June, July and August 2016 compared to 265 cases reported and 78 arrests made for the same period this year.
The number of ATM fraud and fraud-related cases reported increased from 22 to 33 while assault GBH cases increased from 10 to 11.
The number of domestic violence cases decreased from two to one and the number of assault cases dropped from 32 to six. Theft also decreased from 119 to 90. Theft out of motor vehicles decreased from 30 to seven and drunk driving cases from 41 to 32.
Muhita attributed the achieved success to the partnership between the police and neighbourhood watch groups, information sharing on crime hotspots in Walvis Bay and the visibility of police officers and patrol vehicles.
He also said monthly stop-and-search operations provided some breakthroughs.
OTIS FINCK
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