USAKA Town Clerk, Alex Mwansa’s official vehicle was on Tuesday broken into by unidentified people who got away with a bag containing official documents while he was exercising in a gymnasium at a hotel in Longacres area.
But Mr. Mwansa has described the incident as an ordinary theft staged by common criminals who might have mistaken the documents for money.
An impeccable source has disclosed that the criminals trailed Mr. Mwansa, who was driving a Lusaka City Council Toyota Hilux, using a white Toyota Spacio until he parked near the gym.
The source said closed circuit television (CCTV) footage showed that soon after Mr. Mwansa went into the gym, the criminals broke into his vehicle, got the bag and passed it on to occupants of another small car that had just driven in and drove off.
In an interview yesterday, Mr. Mwansa confirmed the incident, saying after parking outside the gym, the criminals broke into his vehicle and stole a black laptop bag which had documents from the Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) workshop, thinking it was money.
“I think it was an ordinary theft because there have been a lot of thefts at the hotel for those who go to the gym and the guards were there and we thought we were safe. It was a holiday and very quiet but when we came out we found that they had broken into the Toyota Hilux.
“I don’t think I was trailed because that (theft) is common at that hotel and that is why we insist that there is always a guard nearby especially at the gym. There have been a lot of theft incidents not only at the hotel but around that area including Longacres shopping centre,” Mr. Mwansa said.
He appealed to the police to intensify patrols in the area as thefts from motor vehicles, especially to do with bags, have become rampant around the Longacres trading areas, adding that he has already reported the hotel incident at Longacres police post.
When contacted, a representative of the hotel management said they have enough security personnel and cameras and refused to comment further.
And Zambia Police spokesperson Rae Haamonga said in as far as the police would want to patrol the area, they do not want to instill unnecessary fear especially in tourists and other outsiders visiting Zambia as hotels and lodges are private properties where the visitors lodge, relax, and have a good time.
Mr. Haamonga said if owners of the hotels, lodges and shopping malls are having challenges of thefts they should report to their nearest police stations so that appropriate measures can be taken, adding that if their own private security is inadequate they should engage the police so that culprits are brought to book.
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