Police in Lilongwe have blocked unknown criminals from stealing medical equipment at Bwaila District Hospital medical stores.

Public Relations Officer for Lilongwe Police Hasting Chigalu, has confirmed the development and said on Monday 28 March 2023,  intelligence collection for  Bwalolanjovu Police Unit , under Lilongwe Police Station, learnt that two unknown criminals were planning to break into the hospital’s medical stores in order to steal drugs and other equipment.

Following the tip, the law enforcers ambushed the criminals who jumped the fence and started breaking into the medical stores during the stated day night.

Chigalu said that the law enforcers patiently waited the criminals until they stole assorted items from the stores in order to cover them when they tried to take the items out.

While still holding their ambush positions, the law enforcers allowed one criminal to leave the scene, who later came back, driving a Mazda Verisa, registration number BY 1711 in order to load, and go away with the stolen medical equipment.

However , when the criminals finished loading the four cartons containing 19 boxes of Rifampicin, 14 boxes of hb-sag, 12 boxes of Ethambutol hydrochloride, 16 boxes of Artefan, two boxes of HIV testing kits, and three boxes of trinity biotech, heavily armed officers submerged from their positions and demanded the two to surrender themselves.

Instead of surrendering themselves the unknown criminals started the engine and sped off, hitting the gate to force their exit.

But in the line battle, the law enforcers shot some bullets aimed at disabling the vehicle that was later abandoned near a filling station.

Meanwhile, the station has intensified hunt for the two criminals who bolted on foot but both, the vehicle used in the theft, and medical equipment are in the custody of Lilongwe Police.