Unknown criminals Monday stole 19 rolls of water pipes valued at K700, 000 from GMT Industries warehouse at Njewa location in Lilongwe.

However police managed to intercept and recover some.

Lilongwe Police Station Spokesperson Inspector Kingsley Dandaula told the Malawi News Agency (Mana) Wednesday that 990 Police Patrol Officers intercepted a Toyota Dyna motor vehicle registration number KA 2990 carrying water pipes which they believed to have been stolen from GMT Industries.

“The Police called the owner of the company who is a Lebanese national Youssef Diab and went to the warehouse with the vehicle that was carrying the pipes.

“However, the driver of the Toyota Dyna and the unknown criminals escaped, but when the owner came to the warehouse he identified his pipes,” he said and disclosed that the police later arrested three guards, one labourer and a driver.

Guards arrested include; Daison Jamisoni, 27, from Chiperepete village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Nkukula in Dowa, Innocent Makuluni, 22, from Matale village TA Phambala in Ntcheu and Evance Masiku, 23, from N’gona village TA Kamenyagwaza in Dedza.

The driver,Goodwin Chiweza, 30, from Sunga village TA Masula in Lilongwe and labourer Isaac Makuni, 25, from Kalama village TA Kachere in Dedza.

The police publicist further said investigations are underway to arrest the other culprits.