Police in Chilanga have arrested 3 suspects, including two security guards, in connection with a break-in and theft of K31,000 from Gateway Hypermarket located at Petroda Service Station along Kafue Road.
The incident was reported on July 24, 2025, at 14:00 hours by Feroz Alam, 53, the proprietor of Gateway Hypermarket, who resides in Lilayi.
Police Public Relations Officer, Rae Hamoonga, says unknown individuals had broken into the shop in the early hours of July 24 and stolen K31,000 in cash.
“Mr. Alam had closed the shop on July 23 at around 21:00 hours, leaving the premises under the guard of two security personnel but at around 03:00 hours the following morning, the security guards alerted him that they had apprehended a suspect hiding inside the shop’s toilet,” said Mr. Hamoonga in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He said that Police officers were dispatched to the scene and discovered that the suspect had gained entry by cutting through the iron-sheet roofing of the shop using a cutting tool.
“CCTV footage later reviewed showed the intruder entering and exiting the building through the roof, carefully avoiding detection by the security guards,” said Mr. Hamoonga.
Mr. Hamoonga said that the footage further revealed the suspect loading cash into a bag and hiding it in the toilet.
He said that upon continued review, it was discovered that the two security guards, identified as Austern Lundy and George Hachintu, later retrieved the bag containing the stolen money and removed it from the premises.
Mr. Hamoonga said that all 3 suspects have been detained and formally charged with breaking into a building and committing a felony.
By Chimba Chilopa.
