A suspected thief who attempted to steal copper cathodes was shot and killed.
The incident happened today at 06:40 hours along International Road near Kakoso Stream Bridge in Chililabombwe District, according to police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale. The Anti-Robbery squad was conducting routine patrols along the said road when they discovered three suspects on top of the truck trying to steal copper cathodes.
He claimed that the suspects were going to begin throwing the copper cathodes from the moving vehicle after severing the ratchets that held the bundles securely together.
Mr. Mwale claimed that the criminals hopped off the truck when police confronted them by firing a warning shot.
However, he claimed that attempts to stop them were unsuccessful since they all fled, and sadly, one of them was shot in the left knee and suffered a gunshot wound.
“The suspect was apprehended and found with a matchete and a knife on him. Upon being interviewed, he identified himself as Marron kaluchelo aged 33 of kakoso plots in Chililabombwe District. He also revealed the names of the people he was with and where they take the Copper Cathodes after stealing,” he said.
Mr Mwale said suspect was rushed to Kaloso District Hospital for medical attention but later died around 10:30 hours.
“His Body is in the same Hospital mortuary awaiting formal identification and postmortem,” he said.
“Brief facts are that on January 31, 2023 at around 05:00 hours, the Anti-Robbery crack squad in Chililabombwe went for patrols in an effort to curb the rising Copper thefts and thefts of goods in transit.
They discovered three suspects on top of the HOWO truck with registration number 2386 AT05 and trailer with registration number 2390 AT05, both of which were being driven by Mukalay Richard, a 49-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According to him, the truck was transporting copper cathodes to Tanzania.
Police have started a manhunt for the other suspects who are now evading capture, Mr. Mwale stated.
