Mangochi DC’s office broken into

Police in Mangochi are hunting for 12 unknown people who broke into 10 office rooms at Mangochi district commissioner’s (DC) office on Thursday night and stole assorted property and money.

Mangochi Police spokesperson Rodrick Maida said in an interview that the 12, who were armed with a rifle, stormed the offices and tied the guards at around midnight.

He said: “They broke into 10 offices, including the DC’s office and stole K473 000 cash, K24 000 worth of airtime vouchers, five laptops, one laptop bag and Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates in Public Administration belonging to the DC [Jack Nguluwe] and four promotion letters.

“They shot in the air several times to scare the community before stealing a Toyota Hilux twin cab registration 018 MG 033 belonging to the youth department.”

Maida said the robbers used the vehicle to get away from the scene and it was found abandoned at Nansenga along the Mangochi-Katema road.

He said value of the stolen items has not been calculated.

Maida said investigations are underway to trace and arrest the suspects and recover the stolen items.

He said once arrested, the 12 would answer charges of theft which is contrary to Section 301 of the Penal Code.

Mangochi has been riddled with incidents of crime of late and last weekend seven prisoners escaped from Mangochi prison using a hole they dug on the prison wall. n