Couple injured in Aranos home invasion but out of danger

Fleeing gang believed to be armed with at least two loaded 9mm pistols

Staff Reporter

The latest information coming from the Aranos community confirms that the couple who were attacked in their home by armed robbers around 02:00 on Sunday in this Kalahari hamlet have indeed been injured. However, the severity of their injuries is such that they are able to remain at their home and receive private treatment.

The female victim was assaulted and tied up, while the male victim was also assaulted and has a laceration injury suggesting that a panga might have been used.

Preliminary information indicates that the gang consisted of four Namibian males of Oshiwambo heritage, and they were armed with a pistol, as well as possibly knives and a panga when they entered the house.

The firearms stolen from the couple include a .22 rifle, a 38 special revolver, a 757 Mauzer, a 222 rifle, a 9mm pistol, and a .308 rifle. A white Toyota pick-up with rails on its loading box was also stolen, and the thugs fled the scene in it.

Information from an eyewitness at the scene suggests that the stolen guns were not loaded with ammunition, but the thugs allegedly stole cartridges for the stolen pistol. This leads the police to believe that the fleeing gang is now armed with two loaded pistols. Nobody is taking any chances as to whether the thugs took ammunition for the stolen rifles as well.

“It does not appear that any rounds were stolen for the rifles, but nobody is taking chances,” revealed a source from Informanté who is familiar with the scene. The police are following up on more information, including a security official who spotted the stolen vehicle in Mariental. Similarly, someone spotted the vehicle at around 04:30 on the Uhlenhorst road, prompting the Derm Police to respond.

At the moment, the police are diligently following up on every scrap of information, despite the two alleged sightings of the stolen vehicle indicating opposite directions.

Note: The Namibian Police have not yet made any information on the incident public. The couple’s identities, although known to Informanté, are being withheld to protect the early stages of the investigation.