JANUARY 2021 OVERVIEW
Though crime decreased in the past 2 months, crime continues to increase when compared to the previous year.
Armed robbery remained constant in the past 2 months and with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) reporting that murder over petty issues is on the increase, it is evident that violent crime is becoming a cause for concern in the country. At the beginning of January 2021, a man was murdered during a robbery in Rusape, whilst another person had his thumb cut off during a robbery incident late January 2021 in Kuwadzana. In addition, a family in Harare was also severely assaulted at the beginning of February 2021.
As a number of businesses remain closed during lockdown, “petty” thefts and attempted break-ins are likely to increase. It is important to note that this may not be visible in reports as these crimes are often under-reported.
*Please note, a majority of the incidents received by Safeguard are from the Harare province as the statistics below reflect.
NATIONWIDE AND HARARE CRIME STATS
CRIME BREAKDOWN BY MONTH
HIGH-RISK AREAS
*The above suburbs are listed in order of current vulnerability.
TARGETS
Cash remains a primary target during robbery incidents. However, criminals are also targeting money during break-in incidents, with sites known to have cash offices and safes more likely to be targeted.
Gas tanks – more incidents were reported whereby criminals stole gas tanks at residential sites.
Computers, laptops and other electronic equipment have been targeted at business premises. Offices are high risk as criminals can target electronic equipment and money by accessing one room.
MODUS OPERANDI
- The kitchen door was identified as the most vulnerable access points at residential sites.
- Residents and motorists should also be wary of criminals posing as job seekers, healthcare workers, police or army personnel or delivery services as more individuals and businesses increasingly use or encounter people in these services during the current lockdown.
SECURITY ALERT
Mount Pleasant – Suspicious Vehicle: A Honda Fit parked near the premises and switched off its lights. The response team was dispatched to the site and when the team arrived, the vehicle had left.
Philadelphia – Suspicious Vehicle: A blue Toyota Wish was seen parked along Rayden Drive.
OUTLOOK
Residents and businesses should be wary of whom they employ or permit onto their properties as using unverified individuals or companies can pose a security risk.
For a walk through of your security at home or business, please do not hesitate to give Safeguard a call. Your safety is our priority.
Thank you for using Safeguard.
The Safeguard Team
JANUARY 2021 INCIDENT SUMMARIES
HARARE
9 January 2021, Robbery, Residential Site, Enterprise Road, Glen Lorne – Three intruders broke into the house by breaking down the door. The intruders were armed with screwdrivers and iron bars and assaulted the owner and his children. They stole cash, three mountain bikes, three tablets, two iPhones and a car radio.
14 January 2021, Attempted Robbery, Residential Site, Montclaire Road, Borrowdale – A panic button was pressed after a couple were attacked by intruders armed with logs. One intruder went into the house and threatened the wife whilst the other intruder threatened the husband outside. The husband managed to back track into the house and press the panic button. The intruders ran away empty handed.
19 January 2021, Robbery, Residential Site, Dulwich Close, Greendale – Armed robbers were reported at the site. When the team and the police approached the house all the doors were open and no one was in sight. The family was hiding in the yard opposite. It was reported that three intruders accessed the premises and stole money from the premises. It is unclear what type of weapon was used during the incident.
5 January 2021, Robbery, Commercial Site, Sande Crescent, Graniteside – An external guard was handcuffed and beaten by intruders. The intruders proceeded to cut three locks on the screen door for the showroom where they stole some bicycles, a solar panel, solar batteries, computers, CCTV computers, all keys and some panic buttons.
11 January 2021, Robbery, Residential Site, Enterprise Road, The Grange – The intruders gained access by breaking the glass door and retrieving the key which was inside. The intruders were armed with unknown firearm but did not use it. The couple hid in their bathroom whilst the intruders ransacked the house.
24 January 2021, Robbery, Public Area, White House, Kuwadzana – A guard was attacked and robbed on his way home from work. He had his palm cut and his thumb chopped off before his phone was stolen.
13 January 2021, Hijacking, Public Area, Court Road, Kamfinsa – A man was robbed at gunpoint in his pickup truck. An undisclosed amount of money and some chickens were stolen.
18 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Albany Road, Alexandra Park – The intruders gained access by cutting the padlock on the back door open and using a paint scraper to break open the kitchen and laundry doors. The resident woke up due to the loud noises inside her house. She pressed her panic button and shouted for help. The thieves stole a laptop and an iPad. An external guard and neighbourhood watch attended.
10 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Industrial Site, Dover Road, Ardbennie – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The team discovered intruders removed a durawall panel. Nothing was reported stolen.
10 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Kent Avenue, Avondale – An unknown number of intruders jumped a durawall and forced open the door to a building on site. The intruders stole money, a CPU and laptop before fleeing the scene.
2 January 2021, Break in, Base Station, Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale – An alarm activated and a response team was sent. The team found the intruders gained access by removing a palisade bar. They removed the lid for the fuel tank and spillages were seen on the ground.
7 January 2021, Break-in, Commercial Site, Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale – A guard found that stones had been thrown through the window. A search was conducted and the intruder was apprehended.
23 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Clovelly Road, Chadcombe – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The intruders cut the burglar bar of the cottage window and stole four cell phones and one laptop. The cottage does not have an alarm system.
10 January 2021, Break in, Recreational Site, Arcturus Road, Chikurubi – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The team noticed that the asbestos sheet roofing in the kitchen was broken and that is how the intruders gained access. A 9kg gas cylinder was stolen. A report was made to Rhodesville police.
14 January 2021, Break in, Base Station, 14th Avenue, Glen View – An alarm activated and the reaction team was dispatched. The intruders cut and bent one palisade bar to gain entry. They twisted one camera and cut and bent one cage palisade bar inside the booster. No fuel appeared to be stolen. ZRP attended the scene.
26 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Balfour Road, Greendale – The intruders forced open the kitchen door but failed to enter due to the screen door and the alarm that sounded. Nothing was stolen. Police presence was refused.
20 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Greengrove Drive, Greendale – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The team found an intruder forced open the kitchen door and stole a laptop.
21 January 2021, Break in, Substation, Harare Drive/ Arcturus Road, Greendale – An intruder cut two palisade bars on the western side but failed to steal anything as they ran away when the reaction team arrived. ZRP attended the scene.
12 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Gibbons Avenue, Hillside – An alarm activated and the reaction team was dispatched. The team met the resident who said the intruder entered into the kitchen and stole a 5kg gas tank. The intruder removed the kitchen burglar bar because the window was open. The alarm sounded when the intruder tried to enter the lounge and the intruder fled. The kitchen didn’t have an alarm installed.
8 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Dromore Road, Highlands – An alarm activated and the reaction team was dispatched. The intruders cut some strands of electric fence but did not manage to steal anything.
23 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Montgomery Road, Highlands – The resident phoned control room and a reaction team was sent. Upon arrival the resident showed the team a broken durawall panel and told the team the intruders stole 2x240W solar panels off of the staff quarters roof.
26 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Residential Site, Bachory Road, Mandara – An alarm was activated and the reaction team was dispatched. The resident said the intruders used a crow bar to force open the dining room door. They were disturbed by the resident who woke upon hearing the noise.
26 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Balgowan Road, Mandara – Intruders forced open the lounge sliding door and took a cell phone. However, they left it behind and ran away empty handed when the alarm sounded. ZRP Highlands attended the scene.
29 January 2021, Break in, Base Station, Tynwald Road, Nkwisi – A video signal was received from a base station showing someone inside. Upon arrival the team noted one palisade bar was cut and one camera was covered by a piece of cardboard. The housing unit that contains the batteries was tampered with but the intruders failed to open it. Nothing appeared stolen.
22 January 2021, Break in, Industrial Site, George Drive, Msasa – A guard raised alarm that there were intruders at his contract. The team reacted and confirmed that the razor wire was cut over the durawall and the intruders stole two truck batteries. A guard was injured in the process.
14 January 2021, Break in, Commercial Site, Whites Way, Msasa – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The team discovered the intruders gained entry by damaging two durawall panels. They then proceeded to cut the lock and key to the main entrance. They rummaged through the offices, forced open a file cabinet and stole an undisclosed amount of money.
18 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Industrial Site, Mukuvisi – Intruders cut an electric fence in an attempt to get inside the property. However, were unsuccessful as the guards on site were alert and phoned for a reaction team.
11 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Hillview Road, Philadelphia – The intruder gained entry through the kitchen door. They managed to steal a few items before the residents woke up and pressed their panic button. The intruders fled due to the arrival of an external guard and neighbourhood watch.
14 January 2021, Break in, Residential Site, Grevstein Park, Tynwald South – An alarm activated and a reaction team was sent. The team met the resident upon arrival and he said that the intruders gained access by breaking the kitchen door and cutting the screen. A child heard noises and got up to investigate. And came face to face with the intruder. The intruder fled empty handed.
5 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Commercial Site, Dagenham Road, Willowvale – Intruders damaged the bottom panel of the durawall in an attempt to get into the property. The details on site confirmed nothing was stolen off site. Scene was attended by the reaction team. The resident was notified and repaired the damaged part of the wall.
10 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Commercial Site, Dagenham Road, Willowvale – Guards on site pressed a panic button when they saw intruders damaging a durawall. The intruders fled the scene as the response team arrived on site; nothing was reported stolen.
24 January 2021, Break in, Industrial Site, Birmingham Road, Workington – An intruder scaled the durawall, broke the window pane, opened the window and stole a 19kg gas tank, 2 plate gas stove and a 16-inch fan. The break in was discovered by one of the employees.
7 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, St Georges Street, Ardbennie – An employee was arrested by a guard for attempting to steal 4x500mls of non-alcoholic beverage. The accused was taken to ZRP Southerton.
11 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Faber Road, Bluff Hill – Two employees were caught stealing one truck tyre and other goods. The two were taken to the police.
16 January 2021, Theft, Residential Site, Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale – A wheel barrow was stolen from the caretaker’s property. The issue was reported to ZRP Highlands.
8 January 2021, Theft, Residential Site, Ridgeway South, Chisipite – A silver Toyota Run-X was stolen from a residential site. The vehicle theft was only discovered the following morning.
20 January 2021, Theft, Residential Site, Silwood Close, Chisipite – Intruders jumped over the durawall and stole some clothes and a vehicle which was parked in the garage. The intruders tampered with the gate motor and managed to open the gate for easy access in and out the property.
21 January 2021, Theft, Residential Site, Cunningham Road, Greendale – A panic button was pressed and a team was dispatched. Upon checking they noticed that some Zesa cables had been cut and one was missing. ZRP attended the scene.
9 January 2021, Theft, Commercial Site, Kensington – An employee stole a driver’s cell phone. He was caught on CCTV footage. The phone was returned and the employee was disciplined.
19 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Whites Way, Msasa – An employee was caught trying to steal web roll. The warehouse manager was advised and the matter was solved internally.
31 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Highfield Road, Southerton – A woman was arrested after trying to steal a box of cereal off of the property.
16 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Coventry Road, Workington – An employee was found with stolen food in her bag.
22 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Douglas Road, Workington – Some work suit bottoms were missing in stock. Upon checking CCTV, an employee was seen taking the trousers. The employee was arrested and the stolen goods were recovered.
27 January 2021, Intruder, Residential Site, Arcturus Road, Highlands – A response team was requested and dispatched. An unwanted woman was on the property and refused to leave. The woman was taken to the police.
23 January 2021, Intruder, Industrial Site, Birmingham Road, Southerton – An intruder jumped from a neighbour contract into the property and fled the scene.
4 January 2021, Theft from a Motor Vehicle, Industrial Site, Edison Crescent, Graniteside – The key holder found an external guard removing a battery from one of the trucks. When challenged, the guard fled the scene. The team met up with the security manager of the external guard. Police involvement was refused.
2 January 2021, Theft from a Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Western Close, Greendale – An alarm activated and the team found that an intruder broke a vehicle window but nothing was stolen. The fence of the property was damaged on the way out.
BULAWAYO
4 January 2021, Fraud, Commercial Site, Josiah Chinamano Street, City Centre – A stolen credit card was used to make some purchases at a shop. Two men were arrested following investigations.
15 January 2021, Fraud, Industrial Site, Main Street, City Centre – 25 drums of engine oil were discovered missing. The oil was listed in the businesses stock system but nothing was in stock. Investigations are in progress.
18 January 2021, Break in, Commercial Site, Fife Street, City Centre – The site manager phoned control room to say that there had been a break in. Nothing was stolen.
5 January 2021, Break in, Commercial Site, Herbert Chitepo Street, City Centre – The site manager phoned and informed the control room that intruders gained entry through the roof and destroyed the alarm. The safe was destroyed and cash was stolen.
11 January 2021, Theft from a Motor Vehicle, Public Area, 8th Avenue, City Centre – A car was broken into and a handbag was stolen from the vehicle. The handbag had personal documents and a cell phone charger. The handbag was later found along with the personal documents, only the phone charger was missing.
7 January 2021, Attempted Break in, Residential Site, Essex Road, Hillside – The resident heard noises at his door and pressed his panic button. When the reaction team arrived, the team found keys hanging in the door.
23 January 2021, Break in, Base Station, N Square, Mzilikazi – Control room received a call that there was someone at the base station. Upon arrival the team noted that the razor wire was cut however the palisade bars were not tampered with, nothing was stolen.
28 January 2021, Break in, Commercial Site, Waverley Road, Thorngrove – A report was received that the padlocks were forced open and failed to confirm whether the intruders gained full access into the building or not.
17 January 2021, Break in, Industrial Site, Woodbury Road, Thorngrove – A call was received saying there was a break in at the premises. The reaction team was dispatched. The key holder said nothing was stolen even though the intruders gained access into the office.
17 January 2021, Intruder, Mine, Inyati – Illegal panners were reported at the mine. The on duty guard managed to remove the intruders from the property.
21 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Joshua Nkomo Street, City Centre – The resident called stating some items were missing from the automotive parts centre.
20 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Basch Street, Steeldale – A spare wheel was removed from the site.
MANICALAND
2 January 2021, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Gopal Avenue, Rusape – Three armed suspects one wearing a police officer’s uniform and two wearing civilian clothing knocked at the gate before jumping over a durawall. The three intruders ordered the tenant to sit down. The tenant’s son came out and he refused to comply. He was fatally shot 5 times. The intruders ran away empty handed.
22 January 2021, Break in, Industrial Site, Kariba Road, Nyakamete – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. Upon arrival they met the caretakers who told them that the fence was cut the previous night and the alarm activation was from them fixing the fence. It is alleged that the suspects broke two panels of durawall to enter and then proceeded to cut nine strands of the electric fence.
18 January 2021, Intruder, Residential Site, Jason Moyo Drive, Murambi – An intruder was reported at the residence. The team arrived at the property and found the intruder near the cottage. The intruder was made to come out with minimum force. It turns out the intruder was the maid’s boyfriend and the pair was taken to the police station. However, they were subsequently released.
24 January 2021, Theft, Commercial Site, Bvumba Road, Bvumba – Intruders stole a turkey from the premises.
1 January 2021, Theft, Service Station, Robert Mugabe Road, Fairbridge Park – A panic signal was pressed and the team arrested two men for shoplifting.
13 January 2021, Theft, Commercial Site, Light Industry: Groceries were stolen from the premises by an undisclosed amount of persons.
25 January 2021, Theft, Commercial Site, Simon Mazorodze Drive, Light Industry – A pair of pliers were reported missing on site.
18 January 2021, Theft, Petrol Station, Durban Road, Nyakamete – A guard doing his patrols noticed an electric motor dismantled from the trimming machine. The motor was packed in a white sack. He checked but could not see anyone nearby. He checked the perimeter and noted that the intruder gained access from an overhanging tree.
30 January 2021, Theft, Commercial Site, Chipanda Street, Mutare City Centre – A man was caught trying to steal alcoholic beverage onsite. The suspect was taken to Mutare Central Police Station.
MASHONALAND EAST
10 January 2021, Theft, Residential site, Verney Drive, Ruwa – The team received a call saying that there was a theft the previous night. Upon arrival they found a ZESA transformer had been vandalised. Some oil and copper wires were stolen.
MASHONALAND WEST
12 January 2021, Theft, Industrial Site, Northwood Estate, Mount Hampden – The resident reported that there was one desktop, two dongles and one router missing.
MASVINGO PROVINCE
25 January 2021, Fraud, Industrial Site, Bradburn Street, City Centre – A driver attempted to cashed in a fake US$20 note.
12 January, Theft, Public Area, Hofmeyer Street, Masvingo City Centre – A pair of shoes was stolen from the premises.
MIDLANDS
24 January 2021, Break in, Industrial Site, Mambo Road, Mkoba – Intruders accessed the premises via an undisclosed access point and fled the scene as the response team arrived on site. The generator was tampered with and the battery and starter key were taken. The incident was reported to Makoba Police Station.