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Police in Chilanga have arrested three individuals in connection with a burglary at Gateway Hypermarket, located at the Petroda Service Station, along Kafue Road.
The incident was reported by the shop’s proprietor, Feroz Alam, aged 53 of Lilayi, at around 14:00 hours on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga, confirmed the arrests and outlined the details of the case.
According to the report, unknown persons broke into the store in the early hours of July 24 and stole K31,000 in cash.
Alam had closed the shop at approximately 21:00 hours on July 23, leaving it under the guard of security personnel.
At around 03:00 hours the following morning, Alam was alerted by security guards that a suspect had been apprehended inside the shop’s toilet.
Police responded promptly and discovered that the intruder had entered the building by cutting through the iron-sheet roofing using a tool.
“CCTV footage later reviewed showed the suspect entering and exiting the premises through the roof while avoiding detection by security guards,” Hamoonga stated.
The footage further revealed that the suspect loaded cash into a bag and then hid with it in the toilet. However, he later left the bag in the same location.
“Two security guards on duty — Austern Lundy and George Hachintu — were later seen retrieving the bag and removing it from the scene,” Hamoonga said.
Following interrogation, the guards led police to the location of the bag, which was recovered. It contained K18,087, mostly in coins.
The three suspects — identified as John Phiri, the intruder, and the two security guards — have been charged with Breaking into a Building and Committing a Felony Therein.
They are currently in police custody.
A docket has been opened and investigations are ongoing to recover the remaining stolen funds and determine the full extent of the suspects’ involvement.
“The Zambia Police Service urges business owners to strengthen internal surveillance systems and ensure proper vetting of security personnel to prevent potential collusion,” Hamoonga added.
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