APRIL 2020 OVERVIEW
Armed robbery incidents increased by six-fold, whilst assault incidents increased by five, thus indicating an increase in violence. Assault was the most common form of violence but shots were fired during robbery incidents with one (1) individual in Donnington, Bulawayo sustaining an injury due to a gunshot.
Glen View and Msasa reported the most incidents in April 2020, however, the northern suburbs higher risk areas (Ballantyne Park- Highlands, Greendale and Borrowdale suburbs) should remain vigilant. (The same applies for similar suburbs nationwide)
NATIONWIDE AND HARARE CRIME STATS
CRIME BREAKDOWN BY MONTH
HIGH-RISK AREAS
TARGETS
- Cash – Cash, remains the most commonly targeted. Most of the incidents involve inside knowledge, so a good vetting process in these areas is important
- Fuel – Glen View reporting a high number of incidents. Unmanned sites remain the target for fuel
- Batteries – Though less frequently targeted in April 2020, vehicles and base stations remain the most common targets for batteries. Frequent checks/sensors, good quality lighting and video alarms are important for the close supervision of these targets.
MODUS OPERANDI
In April 2020, front and back doors were the most commonly used access point’s .Important that these are always locked and if possible secured with a screen when open.
Most armed robbery incidents occurred before the alarm was armed.
Closed businesses and unmanned sites were the most commonly targeted during lockdown with the trend likely to continue if businesses remain closed.
WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Be alert to the risks, and if you see something that looks or feels strange in your area, it most likely is – call the response team to investigate and be proactive
If you would like to walk through your security at home or business, please do not hesitate to give us a call
APRIL 2020 INCIDENT SUMMARIES
HARARE
26 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Tilcor Road, Chitungwiza:
An unknown number of suspects arrived on site and held up the guard and tied him down before forcibly gaining access into one of the buildings on site. The suspects used a key to unlock a safe and removed an undisclosed amount of money from the premises.
24 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Public Location, Sam Nujoma/Robert Mugabe Road, City Centre:
Three (3) suspects armed with firearms connived with an individual known to the complainant and followed him from Newlands to the Harare city centre. The suspects posed as police officers enforcing lockdown regulations. The suspects stopped the complainant, slapped him and removed the keys from the ignition before handcuffing the complainant. The complainant was told to sit in the back seat and the suspects took three (3) cellphones as the informant pretended to be a victim along with the complainant. Another vehicle arrived and the suspects took $59 000 united states dollars from the complainant’s vehicle and informed the complainant that they were being taken to Rhodesville police station. The suspects drove the complainant in his vehicle to Mutare road and Harare drive, released the complainant and fled the scene. The suspects were later arrested along with the informant.
20 April 2020, Common Robbery, Public Location, Woodholme Road, Emerald Hill:
Three (3) male suspects attacked a male complainant as he was jogging in the neighbourhood. The suspects took an undisclosed number of personal items from the complainant and fled the scene. One (1) complainant was apprehended and is believed to reside in a nearby squatter camp along with the other two (2) suspects.
25 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Greengrove Drive, Greendale:
Two (2) intruders armed with a bolt cutter and an electrical taser bent the kitchen door lock and cut the burglar bars in order to gain entry. Upon being discovered, the intruders fought and force-marched one (1) of the residents, using the resident as a hostage to demand access to the bedroom. The residents escaped and hid in the bathroom and alerted the police. The intruders stole 1x handbag containing cash. The matter was reported to the police.
26 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Unnamed Road, Madokero Estate:
Eight (8) armed robbers forcibly gained access onto the premises after accosting three (3) guards on site. The suspects chained the guards and started questioning them about the houses on site, their owners and the security of the complex. The guards were assaulted for failing to provide the information. Thereafter the suspects broke through the durawall of one (1) of the houses on site. The suspects fired one (1) shot as they demanded money and car keys from the complainants. The suspects took cellphones, an undisclosed amount of money, several car keys and a vehicle from the premises before fleeing the scene.
30 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Fernleigh Road, Pomona:
Approximately three (3) robbers armed with knives, bolt cutters and other weapons entered the house through the kitchen door, then tied and force-marched the complainant into the main bedroom, demanding money. The robbers took cash and some jewellery. The matter was reported to the police.
21 April 2020, Assault, Commercial Site, St George’s Street, Ardbennie:
Four (4) suspects, two (2) males and two (2) females approached the guard on site and demanded that he open the gate. The guard informed the suspects that the site was closed upon which the suspects started hurling insults at the guard. One (1) male struck the guard with a stone resulting in the guard sustaining cracked teeth. The response team arrived on site and the suspects were taken to the police.
26 April 2020, Assault, Public Location, George Avenue, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects attached the complainant as he made his way home. The suspects took the complainant’s cellphone and fled the scene.
23 April 2020, Assault, Commercial Site, Cleveland Road and Mutare Road, Msasa:
The response team was dispatched to the scene after it was reported that a client had turned violent on site. The suspect assaulted some employees before fleeing the scene. The suspect was later arrested and taken into police custody.
23 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, St George’s Street, Ardbennie:
Two (2) male suspects damaged the doors on site and attempted to gain entry onto the site. An employee stumbled upon the suspects, causing the suspects to flee the scene empty handed.
12 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Samora Machel Avenue, Belvedere:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and forced open the front door. The alarm activated and the suspects fled the scene. No losses reported on site.
21 April 2020, Break-in, Residential Site, Quinnington Road, Borrowdale:
Two (2) suspects jumped over the durawall and attempted to force open the windows and doors. The suspects fled the scene when they saw the guard posted on site.
10 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, Wilmcote Puddle Lane, Borrowdale:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the durawall and forced open the windows but did not manage to remove anything from the site as the alarm activated.
13 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, McChlery Avenue, Eastlea:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to gain entry by forcing open the roof. No losses were reported on site.
04 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Unnamed Street, Epworth:
Two (2) suspects driving an undisclosed vehicle with registration number ACA 3871 parked their vehicle at a nearby school. The suspects disembarked their vehicle with containers and approached the base station. The suspects cut through the palisade bars and vandalised the generator before siphoning an undisclosed amount of fuel from the site.
28 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, 14th Avenue, Glen View:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site via a compromised palisade bar and removed an undisclosed amount of fuel from the site.
21 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, 11th Avenue, Glen View:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the palisade bars, vandalised the generator and siphoned an undisclosed amount of fuel from the site.
16 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Base Station, Unnamed Road, Glen View 6:
An unknown number of suspects broke through the palisade bars, vandalised the generator but failed to siphon fuel from the generator.
08 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Base Station, 5th Avenue, Glen View:
An unknown number of suspects broke through the palisade bars, vandalised the generator but failed to siphon fuel from the generator.
28 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Unnamed Street, Glen View 1:
An unknown number of suspects forcibly opened the palisade bars and vandalized the generator. The alarm activated and the response team was deployed to the site. The suspects fled the scene and the response team managed to recover some fuel on site.
17 April 2020, Break-in, Residential Site, Kennedy Drive, Greendale:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site after jumping over the durawall and stole a vehicle from the premises before forcing open the gate to flee the scene.
12 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Beatrice Road, Harare South:
An unknown number of suspects opened the cage and broke the lock. The suspects removed an undisclosed amount of property from the site and fled the scene.
25 April 2020, Base Station, Unnamed Road, Machipisa, Highfield:
An unknown number of suspects broke through the palisade bars, vandalised the generator doors and attempted to remove the battery. Further losses yet to be determined.
17 April 2020, Break-in, Residential Site, Gilson Way, Hillside:
An unknown number of suspects cut the electric fence and gained access onto the premises. The suspects removed footwear and a gym bag from a generator cage on the premises and fled the scene.
27 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Silcox Avenue, Houghton Park:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the durawall and forcibly entered the base station. The suspects forced open the generator cage and siphoned an undisclosed amount of fuel from the site.
04 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Prince Edward Street, Kensington:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and attempted to enter an office through the window and failed, no losses reported.
17 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Stortford Parade, Mabelreign:
An unknown number forced their way into the site after breaking through the roof. The suspects vandalised the alarm system and removed six (6) cellphones from the premises before fleeing the scene.
15 April 2020, Break-in, Residential Site, Kurrichane Way, Mandara:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site by scaling over the durawall before breaking the burglar bars in the lounge. The suspects removed a television from the premises and fled the scene. It is believed that the dog may have been drugged during the incident.
15 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Lomagundi and Harare Drive, Marlborough:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the palisade bars and removed an undisclosed amount of batteries from the site.
10 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Lezard Avenue, Milton Park:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and forced open one (1) of the doors. No losses were reported.
04 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Lezard Avenue, Milton Park:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the gate, twisted the cameras and forced open the front doors. The suspects failed to open an inside door and fled the scene empty handed. Alarm activation received.
04 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Lezard Avenue, Milton Park:
An unknown number of suspects entered the premises through an unknown access point and forced open the office door. The losses, if any, are still unknown.
19 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, George Avenue, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects broke through the durawall and attempted to remove a generator and batteries from the premises but were interrupted by a patrolling guard. The suspects fled the scene empty handed.
18 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Muzhamhembwe Street:
An unknown number of suspects forced their way onto the premises after breaking through the back gate. The suspects opened the screen door which leads into the shop. The alarm activated and the suspects fled the scene. No losses were reported.
08 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Base Station, Tynwald Road, Nkwisi:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the palisade bars, vandalised the generator cover but failed to remove anything form the site.
16 April 2020, Break-in, Pharmacy, Chiremba Road, Queensdale:
An unknown number of suspects cut through the screen door and broke the front glass door. The suspects removed an undisclosed number of pharmaceutical products and fled the scene.
08 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Industrial Site, Unnamed Street, Ruwa:
An unknown number of suspects forced their way onto the premises and accosted the guard on site. The suspects assaulted the guard and tied him up but did not manage to remove anything from the premises.
06 April 2020, Break-in, Pharmacy, Strathaven:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to enter the building via an undisclosed access point. Losses from the site are yet to be confirmed.
08 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, 1st Avenue and Huxton Road, Waterfalls:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the palisade bars after cutting through the razor wire. The suspects twisted the camera and removed an undisclosed amount of batteries from the site.
29 April 2020, Intruder, Residential Site, Pebworth Place, Greystone Park:
Three (3) suspects were seen loitering on the premises. The suspects fled the scene when a resident on site raised alarm.
08 April 2020, Intrusion, Residential Site, Honister Drive, Helensvale:
The response team was deployed to the site after an intruder was seen inside the premises. The suspect was taken to the police no losses reported.
28 April 2020, Intruder, Industrial Site, Lynette Road, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the durawall and started throwing stones in an attempt to chase away the guard. The suspects approached a vehicle parked on site, cut through the tent and realised it was empty. No losses reported.
24 April 2020, Theft, Public Location, Steppes Road, Chisipite:
An unknown number of suspects cut the electricity cables and fled the scene.
25 April 2020, Attempted Theft, Public Location, Honey Bear Lane, Greystone Park:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to steal from the ZESA transformer, no losses reported.
28 April 2020, Theft, Commercial Site, Coull Drive, Mount Pleasant:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a tablet from the site.
08 April 2020, Theft, Commercial Site, Golden Stairs Road, Mount Pleasant:
One (1) male suspect was apprehended after he attempted to remove disco lights from a restaurant on site.
07 April 2020, Theft, Commercial Site, Harrow Road, Msasa:
One (1) suspect was apprehended after removing and concealing a roller paint brush on site.
08 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Commercial Site, St Georges Street, Ardbennie:
An unknown number of suspects removed an undisclosed number of non-alcoholic beverages from a vehicle parked on site. One (1) of the employees is currently under investigation for not declaring the goods that were on the truck before the theft.
25 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Commercial Site, Reform Way, Willowvale:
An unknown number of suspects removed a starter motor, battery and an alternator from an accident damaged vehicle on the premises.
07 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Commercial Site, Dagenham Road, Willowvale:
An unknown number of suspects removed three (3) trailer belts from a vehicle parked on site.
MATABELELAND
23 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Bristol Road, Belmont:
An unknown number of suspects approached the complainant outside the shop and robbed him of an undisclosed amount of foreign currency. The suspects fled the scene in a silver Honda fit ADH 3299.
10 April 2020, Attempted Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Iron Bridge, Donnington:
Two (2) armed suspects gained access onto the premises and held up the guard on site. The suspects shot the guard above the knee before fleeing the scene empty empty-handed.
22 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Thornwest Crescent, Thorngrove:
Eight (8) suspects arrived on site armed with an AK rifle. The suspects broke through the durawall and held up the guard on site before handcuffing him. The suspects forcibly entered a building on site and removed an undisclosed amount of money from the premises before fleeing the scene.
17 April 2020, Assault, Commercial Site, Doncaster Road, Belmont:
The guard on site was assaulted by individuals posing as law enforcement. The guard sustained some minor injuries due to the assault.
13 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Fifteenth Avenue, City Centre:
An unknown number of suspects forcibly gained access onto the site and forced open the back door. The suspects removed two (2) jerry cans and fled the scene as the alarm activated.
16 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Plumtree Road, Emganwini:
An unknown number of suspects cut through the fence and siphoned an undisclosed amount of diesel from the site.
21 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Harare and Fairbridge Road, Fairbridge:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises after cutting through the electric fence. The suspects did not manage to remove anything from the premises as they were seen by a patrolling guard.
18 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Harare and Fairbridge Road, Fairbridge:
An unknown number of suspects cut through the fence and removed an undisclosed amount of alcohol from the premises.
09 April 2020, Break-in, Base Station, Pumula South:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed an undisclosed amount of property from the premises.
23 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Magazine Road, Steeldale:
A suspect cut through the electric fence and gained access onto the premises. The suspect attempted to enter the storeroom which has the safe but was disrupted by a patrolling guard. The suspect fled the scene empty handed.
18 April 2020, Attempted Theft, Commercial Site, Beitbridge:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to remove an undisclosed amount of mealie meal from the premises. The goods were recovered on site by a patrolling guard.
23 April 2020, Theft, Miming Site, Unnamed Road, Inyati:
An unknown number of suspects removed an undisclosed amount of steel pipes from the premises and fled the scene.
30 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Commercial Site, Harare and Fairbridge Road, Fairbridge:
An unknown number of suspects approached a vehicle that was parked outside the premises and siphoned an undisclosed amount of fuel from the vehicle.
MANICALAND
CHIPINGE
19 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Chipinge:
An unknown number of suspects cut through the fence and proceeded to loot macadamia nuts from the premises. Patrolling guards saw the intruders and raised alarm causing the suspects to flee the scene empty-handed.
28 April 2020, Attempted Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Chipinge:
Two (2) suspects gained access onto the premises through a compromised fence. The suspects were started looting macadamia nuts before they were seen by patrolling guards. The guards raised alarm causing the suspects to flee the scene empty-handed.
MUTARE
05 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Ash Close, Morningside:
Two (2) armed suspects forcibly entered the premises before the alarm was armed. The suspects tied up three (3) residents before removing a laptop, desktop, printer, keyboard, money, jewellery, some food and three (3) cellphones from the premises.
05 April 2020, Break-in, Commercial Site, Runde Road, Light Industry:
An unknown number of suspects broke through the durawall and removed an undisclosed amount of business equipment from the premises.
RUSAPE
05 April 2020, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Rusape:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and removed ten steel poles and fencing from the premises.
04 April 2020, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Rusape:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a tap from the site.
29 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Educational Institution, Unnamed Road, Nyakamete:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and removed a jack and a twenty (25) litre container from a bus parked on site. The suspects had attempted to remove the batteries from the vehicle and failed.
MASHONALAND WEST
20 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Nharira View, Nharira:
Six (6) armed suspects jumped over the durawall and forced open the sliding door at the back. Four (4) masked suspects with baton sticks entered the house and assaulted one (1) of the complainants before removing a laptop and cellphones from the premises. The response team was deployed to the site and the suspects fired one (1) shot and threw tear gas at the team before fleeing the scene.
08 April 2020, Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Gushungo Way, Norton:
An unknown number of armed suspects gained access onto the premises and removed an undisclosed amount of property from the site.
01 April 2020, Theft from Vehicle, Public Location, Nyabira:
An unknown number of suspects siphoned an undisclosed amount of fuel from a broken-down truck.
02 April 2020, Theft, Mining Site, Mount Hampden Road, Mount Hampden:
An unknown number of employees were apprehended after they connived with intruders to removed coal from the premises.
MIDLANDS
GWERU
13 April 2020, Assault, Public Location, City Centre, Gweru:
Two (2) complainants were assaulted by unknown assailants in the City Centre.
01 April 2020, Attempted Break-in, Base Station, Unnamed Road, Mkoba:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to forcibly enter the base station and failed.
KWEKWE
29 April 2020, Intruder, Mining Site, Kwekwe:
An unknown number of suspects entered the premises through the back. No signs of forced entry were noted on the main building as the suspects fled the scene when upon seeing a patrolling guard.
19 April 2020, Theft, Retail Site, Mvuma Road, Gweru East:
Two (2) suspects were apprehended after attempting to steal twenty-two (22) cases of alcohol from the premises.