Vehicle theft rife in Oshana
Three stolen since December
Employees at car wash outlets and those working at taxi ranks have been fingered in some of the theft cases.
ILENI NANDJATO
The theft of motor vehicles is on the rise in the Oshana region, with the regional police reporting that three vehicles have been stolen since December.
Oshana regional police spokesperson inspector Thomas Aiyambo cautioned vehicle owners to make sure that their vehicles are always protected from theft.
The latest incident happened last Friday when a pink Toyota Vitz was stolen at the Sun Square Mall at Ondangwa.
According to the police report, it is alleged that the complainant left the car’s engine running and went into a restaurant to eat.
While inside, he saw an unknown person driving his vehicle away. The vehicle, registration number B709 BHC, has not yet been recovered and no arrest has been made.
An employee at a car wash was arrested in connection with the theft of a Ford Ranger, stolen from the Titanic Car Wash in Ongwediva on 8 December. Police reported that the white single cab was stolen after the owner left it to be washed and took another car home that had already been washed.
The Ford Ranger was found the following day abandoned at the car wash employee’s home village of Omano ga Kambungu, south of Ondangwa, where it was stuck in the sand with a burst tyre.
Another person who works at a loading zone in Oshakati was arrested in connection with the theft of a taxi on 8 December at Oyetu Complex taxi rank at Ondangwa.
Police reported that a taxi driver left his Mazda Damio with its keys inside and that the suspect drove away with it. The vehicle was recovered on 10 December at Okaku Kiitembu village near Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region after members of the public tipped off the police.
It seems the suspect abandoned the car after it ran out of fuel.
No arrest has been made in this regard.
“Vehicle owners must always make sure that they park their vehicles at safe places. They must make sure that their engines are off and car keys are not inside. They must also avoid trusting their vehicles with strangers such as car washers, car guards and so on,” Aiyambo said.
He added that owners of vehicles which lock automatically should make sure that the vehicle is indeed locked, while “those with import cars must apply additional locks to safeguard their vehicles”.
THEFT: A Ford Ranger that was stolen from a car wash at Ongwediva was recovered at Omano ga Kambungu village south of Ondangwa.
PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED
Employees at car wash outlets and those working at taxi ranks have been fingered in some of the theft cases.
ILENI NANDJATO
The theft of motor vehicles is on the rise in the Oshana region, with the regional police reporting that three vehicles have been stolen since December.
Oshana regional police spokesperson inspector Thomas Aiyambo cautioned vehicle owners to make sure that their vehicles are always protected from theft.
The latest incident happened last Friday when a pink Toyota Vitz was stolen at the Sun Square Mall at Ondangwa.
According to the police report, it is alleged that the complainant left the car’s engine running and went into a restaurant to eat.
While inside, he saw an unknown person driving his vehicle away. The vehicle, registration number B709 BHC, has not yet been recovered and no arrest has been made.
An employee at a car wash was arrested in connection with the theft of a Ford Ranger, stolen from the Titanic Car Wash in Ongwediva on 8 December. Police reported that the white single cab was stolen after the owner left it to be washed and took another car home that had already been washed.
The Ford Ranger was found the following day abandoned at the car wash employee’s home village of Omano ga Kambungu, south of Ondangwa, where it was stuck in the sand with a burst tyre.
Another person who works at a loading zone in Oshakati was arrested in connection with the theft of a taxi on 8 December at Oyetu Complex taxi rank at Ondangwa.
Police reported that a taxi driver left his Mazda Damio with its keys inside and that the suspect drove away with it. The vehicle was recovered on 10 December at Okaku Kiitembu village near Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region after members of the public tipped off the police.
It seems the suspect abandoned the car after it ran out of fuel.
No arrest has been made in this regard.
“Vehicle owners must always make sure that they park their vehicles at safe places. They must make sure that their engines are off and car keys are not inside. They must also avoid trusting their vehicles with strangers such as car washers, car guards and so on,” Aiyambo said.
He added that owners of vehicles which lock automatically should make sure that the vehicle is indeed locked, while “those with import cars must apply additional locks to safeguard their vehicles”.
THEFT: A Ford Ranger that was stolen from a car wash at Ongwediva was recovered at Omano ga Kambungu village south of Ondangwa.
PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED
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