THREE businesses were broken into on Monday night in the north-western town of Khorixas. Multisave, the biggest and only supermarket in the town, the Ice Cream Shop and the Go West Butchery were all broken into and thieves managed to get away with cash amounting to N$4 000 and stock worth N$6 000.

Multisave Supermarket, Go West Supermarket and the Ice Cream Shop opened a few hours later than usual as dozens of local police officers were seen walking around the three shops on Monday morning. The manager of Multisave Supermarket, Salathiel Urimovandu, said that that robbers came in through the window of the supermarket. “They entered through the window and stole N$4 000, which was in the cash-up cases,” said Urimovandu. According to the Multisave manager, footprints belonging to small kids were found outside near the window. Multisave employees were busy counting stock to determine how much was missing when Informanté visited the supermarket on Monday. Urimovandu also said that the possibility of it being an ‘inside-job’ cannot be ruled out. There is suspicion that a former or current employee might have been involved.

The Ice Cream Shop, owned by Zelda Gowases, suffered minor consequences as the thieves only stole 5

litre ice-cream containers and foam cups after they entered through a window. Khorixas Go West Supermarket, owned by a local SWAPO politician named Xoagub, also suffered losses as meat products worth an estimated N$6 000 were stolen after the burglars gained entry through the back door.

The thieves also had a feast inside as they dined on huge pieces of biltong, cooldrinks and juice. They also tried to break open a safe, but failed and blood stains were visible near the safe. “They were feasting inside the butchery. You can see it for yourself. There are cool drinks cans, a piece of half-eaten biltong and juice,” said a Go West manager, who declined to be named. According to the manager one of the thieves also took the liberty of defecating inside the butchery.

Two years ago local police shot and killed a robber who was caught red-handed while stealing from the Go West Butchery. This was the third time the Go West Butchery has been broken into. A criminal case has meanwhile been opened by the manager of Go West Butchery and the police are said to be investigating the break-in.