Kang police launch manhunt

DIRANG LEKUNTWANE
Correspondent | Tuesday November 9, 2010 00:00

Thieves have hit the cooperative shop twice in less than two months. The shop is located in Motokwe village, 72km from Kang. Currently, five suspects are out on bail awaiting trial for the first break-in, where the shops lost goods.

Kang Police Station commander, Superintendent Ogaufi George said his beat has recently been bombarded with reports of robberies and house break-ins.

He suggested that the problem might be caused by the on-going construction of the road between Morwamoso and Letlhakeng. He said thieves broke into the Road and Transport offices in Kang and stole a safe which they later abandoned in Motokwe. Fortunately, it contained no cash only office receipts. The safe was opened by a cutting torch.

'Thieves from Molepolole and probably Gaborone seem to target this area because it is a village. So they use the road that is currently under construction as their getaway route. This is a worrying trend,' he said.

The police chief said they are receiving increasing reports of crime involving the youth, especially students at the nearby Matsha Senior Secondary School.

George is worried about the increasing number of rape cases due to excessive consumption of home brewed traditional beers like Khadi and Nyola. Most of the victims of rape are familiar with the culprits. Police investigations often reveal that the people meet at drinking spots in the village.

George said stock theft is a cause of concern in the area and residents are to blame because of their lack of responsibility and accountability in branding and ear-marking their cattle. The thieves often wait at the pan in the village and pounce on unbranded cattle. 'So these cases end up in the favour of the thieves, who often engage attorneys because the said owners will fail to identify the cattle, either with the ear-mark and or brand,' he said.