Hunger fuels housebreaking in Letlhakane

FRANCISTOWN: Police have alleged that hunger is fuelling housebreaking in Letlhakane based on the modus operandi in their cases.

According to the Letlhakane Police Station commander, Superintendent Michael Maphephu, they observe that in most housebreaking cases the suspect eats food and leaves valuables untouched. If they were hardcore criminals, the suspects would have stolen valuables in the houses. He revealed that so far their policing area has recorded 10 cases of housebreaking in Tawana and Phase 1 extension areas respectively.

Maphephu said in most cases they suspect that children break into the houses to eat readily prepared food. In some of the cases the complainants found their already prepared food eaten whereas their values such as undisclosed cash in dollars, laptops, television and other expensive items untampered with, he added.

The Letlhakane police boss said this indicates that the suspect just wants already-made food and nothing more. He stated that even though no arrests were made, parents should take care of their children.

He added that parents should make it a point that their children are well-fed so that they do not go around breaking into other people’s homes in search of already-made food. As the Easter holidays draw near, Maphephu urged people living in Tawana and Phase 1 extension areas to tighten security and to not leave their homes unattended to. Tawana and Phase 1 extension areas are located on the outskirts of Letlhakane village and are often targeted by criminals.