Police in Yambio County, Western Equatoria State, are holding six men suspected of breaking into shops in Yambio town on Saturday.

Speaking to The City Review on phone from the Western Equatoria State capital, Yambio, the Deputy Police Commissioner, Maj. Gen. Elia Kosta Faustino said they had arrested six suspects and were hunting down the other two.

“On the 15^th of this month, some thieves entered Yambio market, breaking into one of the shops and carrying away the safe for keeping money. In the safe, there was an amount worth SSP7 million and $1, 800,” Maj. Gen. Faustino revealed.”

He said the suspects were arrested with the help of state police Criminal Investigation Departments.

“After that incident, our CIDs launched an investigation, which enabled them to arrest three suspects in Yambio. The three were able to tell where some of their colleagues were. They were later arrested in Lui while on their way to Juba. They were identified, and now they have been brought back and are being investigated,’’ he added.

He said they were searching for the two suspects and would hand over the others for prosecution.

Maj. Gen. Faustino said half of the stolen money had been recovered but assured the public of police commitment to doing everything possible to recover the remaining half of the money.

“We found the safe, which is considered one of the largest, as it weighs a ton. They were able to carry it to the forest, where they managed to break it. The safe we have is in the police station with the money we got from them. “

The deputy police commissioner urged young people to stay away from criminal activities because it could ruin their future.

“They should look for something that can help them in the future instead of destroying their future with such activities,” he emphasised.

He urged the civil population to cooperate with the police on necessary information, saying that through information from the public, criminals would be easily identified.

However, on Saturday, a local news website, Western Equatoria News, reported that six of the eight suspects who robbed the shop had been arrested and were awaiting trial.

It was also revealed that the police recovered over SSP4 million out of a total of SSP7 million, as well as $500 out of a total of 1500 stolen items.

The information prompted WES Governor, Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, to commend the police for their excellent work while encouraging them to continue in the same spirit to rid the state of theft.