Erongo Police caution parents, children on holiday

SWAKOPMUND, Aug. 23 – Head of Community Police for the Erongo region, Warrant Officer Iileni Shapumba, has sent out a stern warning to parents and school-going children to be at their best behavior during the holidays.
In light of coastal youths being involved in crimes such as assaults, robberies, rape, to name a few, Shapumba cautioned parents to keep a close eye on their children and to take ownership of their behavior.

Alcohol and drug abuse are the main contributing factors to youths misconducting and Shapumba urged the youth to refrain from these substances. In the same breath he warned alcohol outlets, especially shebeens, not to sell alcohol to any person under the age of 18.

“We are monitoring these outlets and culprits will be held accountable,” Shapumba stressed.

Regarding the recent killings of pensioners at the coastal town, the community police chief said that it is “very disturbing.” “These pensioners have dedicated their entire lives to our country and do not deserve to be killed by youths,” he fumed.

A meeting was conducted with stakeholders and community members last weekend, where residents were urged to do a proper background-check before employing anyone at his/her home. It is sad that mostly all the victims was brutally murdered by people they trusted, Shapumba concluded.

Pensioner slayed in Swakopmund

While still recovering from the gruesome murder of the elderly Strzelecki couple a fortnight ago, Swakopmunds residents were left astounded by the slaying of another pensioner at the coastal town, last Friday.
The body of 78-year old Manfred Hartmann, who was living alone at his home in Ametis Street, Vineta, was discovered on Friday morning at around 9h30.

The police regional crime investigations coordinator for Erongo, Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu, confirmed the incident. According to him the police searched the house after receiving a tip-off from an anonymous source that morning. Upon arrival the police found some of the rooms at the house locked and observed that the safe had been tampered with.
The body of the pensioner was discovered in a pool of blood in an outside toilet, which too had been locked. The victim was tied up with an electrical wire and it is suspected that he was beaten with a brick or similar object resulting in his death. The police are investigating a case of robbery and murder.
Iikuyu further confirmed that a laptop as well as a cell phone were stolen.

“We also call on the public to be vigilant. It is very tragic that old people are being targeted by these criminals,” he said referring to the murder of the Strzelecki couple about two weeks before. Excellent police work lead to the arrest of two suspects at Outjo and Swakopmund, respectively, the same night. One of the suspects is believed to have been working as a gardeners at the deceased‘s home. – Marshallino Beukes