Nampol cautions about suspect goods
Nampol said it is witnessing a rise in cases and incidences where members of the public are found in possession of suspected stolen goods.“Members of the public buy stolen goods without legitimate proof of ownership on streets from the sellers and thus fall victim in the end,” according to the head of the public relations division, Dep. Comm Kauna Shikwambi, in a media release.
She said that in terms of the law, receiving property knowing it to have been stolen and to be found in possession of suspected stolen goods, is a crime and people who do not give reasonable proof of account of such possession may be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law.
It is against this backdrop that Nampol cautions the public to refrain from buying and selling properties suspected to be stolen and rather report any such act to the police.
In light of the above, the public is advised to avoid conflicting with the law, and rather adhere to the following tips:
• Do not buy goods in the street as the goods may have been stolen.
• Be aware that buying stolen property is a criminal offence and punishable by law.
• When buying from an individual, request for legitimacy, such as proof of ownership, receipt or statement under oath.
• Buying from the street is risky as you may be robbed of other properties or defaulted in another manner.
• Buying electronics in the street is risky because the purchased goods may not be in working condition.
• You may be arrested after you have bought stolen goods and lose your valuable money or other assets.
“It is important to highlight that buying suspected stolen goods creates a market and room for theft and housebreaking. Let us therefore act responsibly and destroy the market by not buying suspected stolen property,” Shikwambi concluded.