By Shaffie A Mtambo
Police at Chitipi in Lilongwe have arrested three men over suspicion that they have been behind a series of burglary and theft of K18.6 million worth of household property and medical drugs.
Lilongwe police officer inspector Hestings Chigalu,says law enforcemencers have so far recovered six plasma screens, a motorcycle, laptop, three cellphones, assorted medical drugs and kitchen utensils, among others.
The suspects have been identified as Yosafati Siyasiya (ex-convict), 40years,Alex Chirwa, aged 25, and Chisomo Petala, 18years old.
They have been terrorizing Chitipi, Njewa, Kasiya and M’bwatalika areas.
And at Mpingu Trading Centre, they broke into Sunrise Mission Clinic, and stole assorted medical drugs valued at K3 million.
The suspects sold the drugs at GMC Medicine Store at Chinsapo 2, whose owner has also been arrested, and some drugs have been recovered from his store.
Yosafati Siyasiya, who was released from Maula Prison on December 16 last year after serving his sentence for committing similar offences, went on burglary and theft spree just a day after his release.
With his accomplices, on December 17, 2024 Siyasiya went to a certain accountant’s house where they stole 2 Thinkpad laptops, 2 tablet phones, 3 expand bags full of clothes, among others, all valued at K13 million.
At least six households have been attacked since December, before their arrests on Thursday, March 6, 2025
Efforts are underway to recover more stolen items.
Yosafati Siyasiya comes from Kafansiyanji Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Dzoole, Dowa, Alex Chirwa hails from Kam’machira Village, T/A Malili, while Chisomo Petala comes from Mpingo Village, T/A M’bwatalika, both in Lilongwe District.
