By Confidente Reporter
THE impersonation of Government and corporate officials is a rampant crime that has flourished in recent times with brazen criminals occasionally going to great lengths to pull off their ruse by robbing their victims at gun point, the Windhoek City Police has warned.
The municipal police said that the crime was rife over the past week with suspects taking advantage of the ongoing water and electricity saving campaigns. In most cases, the suspects pretend to be officials from reputable companies who prey on their victims that often let their guard down because they think they are dealing with candid officials. The suspects then rob their victims at gunpoint.
“The week from October 7 to October 16, two notable incidents that featured prominently are impersonation of officials and pedestrian accidents. People impersonate officials by going house to house claiming they are representatives from a certain company that came to install free shower caps [as] part of the ongoing water saving campaign. The same individuals ask to install electricity saving bulbs for free and when allowed inside the house they rob occupants at gunpoint,” City Police said.
The City Police advised the public to refrain from allowing strangers to enter their houses without confirming their identities by calling the relevant companies or police.
On the alarming issue of pedestrian accidents, City Police said that accidents of that nature remain a great concern despite ongoing intervention mechanisms aimed at reducing pedestrian accidents.
City Police recorded seven crashes involving pedestrians with five of the accidents involving minor children aged between 10 and 13. The attributing factors City Police said are pedestrians underestimating the speed of oncoming vehicles, crossing of roads at wrong portions and drivers driving while intoxicated.
“The following areas have been identified as accident hot spots; the B1 road to Okahandja, Monte Cristo (the portion of Caeser and Omuvapu streets), Western Bypass and Sam Nujoma Avenue. At the same time there is a temporary speed reduction at Western Bypass, the turn off to Pioneerspark extension1 until Auas road from 120 km to 60 km per hour due to road works.”
Recently, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVA) expressed its concern over the safety of pedestrians after statistics revealed that at least 147 pedestrians lost their lives on the country’s roads between January and October 4.
MVA CEO, Rosalia Martins-Hausiku said that the institution recorded a total 901 pedestrian-related crashes since January of which 832 pedestrians were injured. Martins-Hausiku in a bid to curb pedestrian accidents pleaded with drivers to be cautious and tolerant of pedestrians as well as to exercise patience by keeping to the speed limit and obeying other road traffic signs.
She also appealed to pedestrians to be more alert and to cross roads only at designated crossing points.