Police Recover 36 Stolen Devices, Including iPhones and Laptops, After Tracking Tourist’s Phone in Windhoek
By TUW
Thirty-six suspected stolen cellphones were recovered in Windhoek’s Havana informal settlement after police traced a device taken from a Canadian tourist, leading to the arrest of a 25-year-old suspect during an operation carried out by the Namibian Police Tourism Protection Sub-Division.
Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem da Fonseca-Shikongo said the investigation started after the tourist was robbed at knife-point on 8 March in the Auasblick area, where his cellphone was taken. Officers later activated tracking measures in an effort to locate the device, which directed them to a shack located along Keetmanshoop Street in Havana.
During a search at the premises, officers discovered 36 cellphones believed to be stolen, as well as several laptops. A number of the devices, mainly iPhones, were found wrapped in foil, which police suspect was intended to interfere with tracking signals. Despite this, the tracking system still led investigators to the location.
Fonseca-Shikongo said the suspect informed police that he repairs electronic devices, but the quantity of phones found at the shack raised suspicion. While officers were still at the scene, messages were reportedly received from individuals attempting to buy cellphones.
Police have urged members of the public who may have lost cellphones or laptops to come forward with proof of ownership so the recovered items can be verified and returned. Investigations into the matter are ongoing.
