Malawi: Police in Mangochi has arrested two teenage suspects for breaking into a shop for stealing a number of items. The suspects have been identified as 18-year-old Rashid Mailos and 19 year old Paul Edward.
The shop which the teenaged boys broke into was situated within the township. The suspect had been caught stealing assorted items worth K500,000 on the night of August 20, 2024.
The officials have shared the details of the incident with the media. According to the spokesperson for Mangochi Police Station, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi, both suspects have criminal records.
Their criminal offenses are allegedly dating back to when they were just 10 years old, in approximately 2015. The officials have shared that the detailsof the suspects’ previous offenses are also available to them.
The Police Public Relations Officer said that the police had staged interventions, however, despite all the efforts the boys continued to steal from various individuals around Mangochi Boma. The official have shared that the members of the community are disappointed by the actions of the young men.
According to Daudi, in 2022, police rescued Mailosi from an angry mob that was about to burn him alive. The mob in this case had caught the teenager stealing from a local businessperson’s house.
“On the night of the latest incident, security guards spotted the duo fleeing the scene and apprehended them, recovering all stolen items, including three fans, two cooler boxes and two traveling bags” she added.
The Mangochi Police publicist disclosed that the suspects have been charged with breaking into a building and committing a felony, contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and will appear in court once the paperwork is completed.
The arrest follows ongoing efforts by Mangochi Police to deal with crime at Mangochi Boma and surrounding areas.
Mailosi comes from Sabibu Village, Traditional Authority Nkoola in Machinga District, while Edward comes from Mtalimanja Village of Traditional Authority Mapira in Mangochi District