Thugs invade lodge, rob of items worth K1.4m: Arrested
Heavily armed criminals in the night of July 29th attacked Chichi Lodge in Nkhotakota district and went away with assorted items worth K1.4million.
Nkhotakota Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Kaitano Lubrino confirmed the development and added that they had arrested three people in connection with the incident.
However, the spokesperson refused to disclose details of those arrested, adding doing so would jeopardise their investigations as they were still hunting for more suspect.
Lubrino said the thugs who put on masks were armed with metal bars, panga knives and big sticks.
He said they managed to break into the manager’s office, various rooms and bar after they had tied three watchmen with ropes.
“After breaking in they stole four plasma screens, a Malawi Savings Bank cheque worth K46,000.00 for Nkhotakota District Council, cash amounting to K32,000.00, home theatre, driving licence, five mobile phones, one laptop and one National Bank ATM card.
“In total, all stolen items are worth K1.4 million,” said Lubrino.
During the occurrence of the incident, office manager identified as Bansily Chokotho, 35, from Jumbe village, Traditional Authority Somba in Blantyre district was off duty.
“One of the customers who lodged at Chichi managed to escape and alerted staff of another nearby lodge. The support staff from this nearby lodge together with the lodger established that the armed criminals had stolen the stated items. We are therefore appealing to the general public to bring forward information about these criminals or anyone offering for sale these items,” he said.
In a related development, 12 people were arrested on July 29, 2012 for entering into Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve and illegally sawing planks.
“Game officials were tipped that there were 12 people residing in the reserve and are illegally sawing planks. The game officials responded by going to the site at midnight where they found them fast asleep and arrested them. They will all appear before court after one of them identified as Steve Mwanda admitted to have recruited the other eleven to do the job,” Lubrino said.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :