By Hou AKot Hou
At least four suspects have been detained in Malual-Baai Payam, Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, for allegedly breaking into a store at Mabil-Geng-Atem Primary School and stealing food items.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when the suspects allegedly broke into the school store at night while people were asleep.
According to the school headmaster, Luka Akol Dut, the suspects made away with three bags of cereals, two bags of lentils, and a jerrycan of cooking oil.
Dut said efforts to recover the stolen items were underway and that some of the goods had already been retrieved.
“What happened on Tuesday is that the four young men broke into a store and made away with three bags of cereals, two bags of lentils, and a jerrycan of oil with salt,” he said.
He added that the suspects had returned two bags of sorghum, while questioning by local authorities was still ongoing.
Dut said local officials were also working to prosecute the suspects, adding that their detention was intended to discourage similar acts among young people in the community.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Twic County of Warrap State, police are holding five suspects accused of breaking into a store and stealing 700,000 South Sudanese pounds (SSP).
Police Inspector Joseph Manyen of Twic Police Station said on Friday that the suspects were arrested with the assistance of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers who were part of a patrol team. He said 700,000 SSP was recovered.
“We are holding five suspects whom we found red-handed as they broke into a store and took 700,000 SSP. Fortunately, our patrol forces, including CID personnel, recovered the money,” Manyen said.
Manyen said the suspects admitted to the offense and allegedly told police that they had been operating as a network.
He added that the suspects would be arraigned in court, where their cases would be determined.
The incidents come amid economic hardships across South Sudan. Some community members attribute rising cases of theft and other crimes to unemployment and the lack of industries and other opportunities to engage young people in productive activities.