Sunday, February 9, 2025

Stanbic bank suspects still at large

The Botswana Police says three suspects of the recent Stanbic Bank Palapye branch heist are still at large except for the arrest of one key suspect, David July, who was later given bail by Palapye Magistrate court on December 30.

Senior Superintendent and Acting Head of Public Affairs, Dipheko Motube, said the bank was robbed of a total of P410 000, ┬ú225, R8710, and Ôé¼100 on December 13 during the early hours of the bank trading hours in Palapye. Motube confirmed that they have arrested one of the suspects, who stormed into the Stanbic Bank’s Palapye branch and robbed it at gun point.

Motube further stated that the suspects then drove away in an unknown vehicle, which was later found abandoned near Palapye Hotel. He said that nobody was hurt during the robbery.

Motube could not state whether the security cameras at the bank were switched on at the time of the robbery, saying they had not yet gone into that detail as they were still pursuing the robbers.

“I am appealing to the public to help us with information which could lead to the arrest of the other suspects and people should be on the lookout for people who spend lavishly,” he said.

Motube also stated that they are still on the hunt for three other suspects. He observed that the same habitual criminal offenders who are granted bail after committing serious crimes, such as armed robbery, are often the ones being pursued by the police.

He stated that the Botswana Police has always been giving criminal justice system efficiency in Botswana top priority but raised a concern about the increasing high rate of criminal activities around the country, which has been affecting the country’s business sector and individuals.

“We are still groping in the dark and looking for suspected robbers who broke into the Stanbic Bank, with no clue as to their whereabouts, three weeks after the robbery took place,” he added.

The police spokesperson said they are hoping to gather information from the in house cameras, and added that they are hopeful that it will assist them to make headway in their investigations.
Motube advised that it is high time that business people become vigilant and intensify their security measures, adding that they should always treat each client with caution.
“We, as the police, are doing our best to protect the public,” he said.

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