MONTHLY OVERVIEW
- In February 2022, violent crimes increased by almost triple. Of the reported incidents, the number of incidents in which firearms were used doubled.
- Criminals continue to target individuals known to have large amounts of money, with safes being the most commonly targeted at business premises.
- The theft of vehicles has been on the increase in the past three months. In February 2022, Safeguard received two reports of individuals who were robbed of their vehicles in broad daylight.
- Bogus police officers continue to operate with one known incident reported in Colne Valley where criminals posed as police officers before robbing a house.
- In Harare, Mount Pleasant, Msasa, Alexandra Park, and Highlands were the most active regarding crime, whilst in Bulawayo, Makokoba, and the City Centre reported the most incidents.
NATIONWIDE AND HARARE CRIME STATS
CRIME BREAKDOWN BY MONTH
Security Advice
- Even if you have a safe, do not keep large amounts of money on site during the day and overnight. Close individuals or internal employees continue to sell information of money on site to criminals.
- Instruct employees and family members to never open for strangers even if they state that they are police or health officials.
- Rather, request their names (and force number where relevant) and their subsequent police station or department and call or visit the employer to verify their authenticity.
- Drive with doors locked and windows rolled most of the way up. When entering or exiting the premise, residents should avoid waiting outside the premise for too long. Rather, have the gate remote ready of call someone to open the gate as you approach the premise.
- Be wary of where you park your vehicle.
- When hosting events ensure that the premise has strict access controls to prevent criminals targeting vehicles on site.
- Avoid walking or jogging alone late at night or in the evening. Rather, walk in groups or pairs.
Suspicious Activity
7 February 2022, 02:56, Residential Site, Samora Machel Ave, Greendale: A suspicious person was apprehended after he was found continuously ringing the intercom.
7 February 2022, 23:39, Residential Site, Borrowdale Lane, Borrowdale: A black Toyota Wish arrived at the property and two men and one woman disembarked and asked the guard to open the gate. They said they were guests and when the guard asked them to name the client they could not answer. When the guard went to check with the caretaker the trio sped off. The guard pressed his panic button, response attended the scene. *Please note a similar incident occurred on 29 January along Harare Drive in Marlborough. Two men and one woman posed as CID Detectives and wanted to get into the residence.
8 February 2022, 00:30, Residential Site, Epping Road, Groombridge: A guard on site reported four suspicious vehicles parked outside the property. A response vehicle was dispatched who reported three vehicles parked at a distance from the contract who drove away when the response vehicle arrived.
Outlook
Given the recent police raids by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), armed robberies may decrease in Harare. However, common robberies, i.e. robberies committed without guns, are likely to remain high as there are no effective controls to police these crimes.
The theft of vehicles is likely to remain an issue unless significant arrests are made. Motorists are urged to be vigilant and drive with their doors locked regardless of the time. Manned parking lots are also safer to park in and motorists should avoid leaving their vehicles unlocked or with goods on the seats.
The first week of March 2022 also saw an increase in the targeting of cellphone signal tower, an indicator that fuel theft syndicates might be back in operation. Sites that have generators on site as well trucks should ensure that these sites are well manned to prevent the theft of fuel and batteries on site.
Thank you for using Safeguard
FEBRUARY 2022 INCIDENT SUMMARIES
HARARE
Armed Robbery
25 February 2022: 14:00, Residential Site, Derwent Road, Avonlea: An unknown number of robbers held-up the residents at gunpoint as they were opening their gate. The robbers forced the residents out of their vehicle and took fled the scene with the vehicle and some personal belongings.
24 February 2022, 22:00, Industrial Site, Mukuvisi Industrial, Msasa – Four armed robbers, one wearing a security guard’s uniform, forcibly entered the premise and held a guard at gunpoint. One of the robbers took the panic button from the guard and started patrolling with him. The other robbers used a hammer to break a window and entered the building. The robbers broke through the walls and removed an undisclosed amount of electric goods from the site. The robbers used the gate keys they took from the guard to unlock the gate and exited the premise. The guard alerted the control room as soon as the robbers had left and the police and a response team were sent to the site. No alarm activation was received from the site.
24 February 2022, 01:05, Commercial Site, Fleetwood Road, Alex Park: A phone call was received reporting intruders at the site. Our team was dispatched and arrived in five minutes. The contract has an electric fence and guard on site. Two intruders overpowered the guard and tied him up, one intruder manned the guard whilst the other cut an iron sheet on the roof. The alarm sounded and the duo ran away. The guard managed to untie himself and went to the domestic quarters. The maid then informed the key holder who had made the phone call.
18 February 2022, 23:20, Industrial Site, Hillside Road, Msasa: At around 22:50, a reaction team attended an alarm activation at the scene. Everything appeared in order. Thirty minutes later, at around 23:20, the guard who was downloading the guard monitoring device was grabbed by an intruder, ordered to sit down, and the intruder took his Safeguard cap and jacket. Three intruders, two armed with pistols, handcuffed the two guards and asked about the cash office. They failed to gain entry into the premises and came back and returned the jacket but kept the cap. Two officers and three homicide detectives attended from Rhodesville Police.
14 February 2022, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Colne Valley: A non-client report states that the robbers abducted a taxi driver along Lomagundi Road. The driver was tied up and blindfolded and taken to Colne Valley. The robbers, who were in two vehicles, two in the taxi and two in the robbers’ vehicle, used a fake police ID to bypass the boom gate. The robbers then approached the complex guards and requested to see a resident before producing their weapons to hold up the complex guards. The guards were stripped of their uniforms and locked in them in the guardroom toilet. Three armed robbers entered the premise and tied up the private guards. The robbers forced their way into one of the apartment units and robbed them of money, jewellery, phones and watches. The fourth robber/suspect who is the taxi driver was then left behind and has since been arrested.
Robbery
27 February 2022, 14:15, Residential Site, Lyndhurst Road and Sudbury Avenue, Monavale: An unknown number of intruders held up a resident at knifepoint and robbed her of her vehicle, cellphones, and other personal belongings. The resident was dragged out of her vehicle after the robbers blocked her vehicle at the Lyndhurst and Sudbury intersection.
17 February 2022, 20:55, Public Location, St Mary’s, Chitungwiza: A guard was attacked after she knocked off duty. The guard was attacked by a male suspect who took her handbag which had personal belongings. She sustained some minor injuries as a result of the attack.
15 February 2022, 03:55, Residential Site, College Road, Alexandra Park: A non-client resident approached a static response team and requested to be accompanied to his residence as his private guard had reported intruders on site. The client reported that the intruders had tied up the guard and dumped him in the back yard. The intruder broke into the premise and stole some solar panels before fleeing the scene.
09 February 2022, 04:57, Repair Shop, Nelson Mandela Avenue, City Centre: A client called the control room and informed the controller that an internal guard had reported intruders on site. Upon arrival, the team discovered that an intruder broke through the main gate, snuck up on the guard and sprayed the guard with an unknown substance. The intruder’s accomplices who were waiting outside fled the scene in a Honda Fit when the guard raised alarm. The response team managed to arrest the intruder that had been left behind. No losses reported on site.
Assault and Public Disturbance
26 February 2022, 11:26, Retail Site, Glen Norah B: A response team was dispatched after a panic signal was received from the site. Upon arrival, the team arrested a man who was being violent and demanding to enter the shop without a mask on. The man was handed over to the police.
24 February 2022, 10:24, Industrial Site, Mutare Road, Msasa: A response team was dispatched after a client requested assistance on site. It was reported that a former employee at the site caused a disturbance. The former employee has a pending court issue with the client. The client and former employee ended up agreeing to meet at the police.
Break in
28 February 2022, 03:12, Base Station, Cheviot Avenue, Waterfalls: A response team was dispatched after a signal was received from the site. Upon arrival, the team discovered that intruders cut the palisade bars and covered the cameras with cloth. The intruders fled the scene when the alarm activated, no losses reported. A guard was deployed to guard the site thereafter.
26 February 2022, 00:11, Residential Site, Baines Avenue, Avenues: An electric fence signal was received and a response team were dispatched. On arrival the team met the client at the location. Intruders cut eight strands of electric fence and scaled the two-metre-high brick wall to enter the premises. The intruders also broke the lock of the small gate of the durawall. The intruders did not gain access to the house and nothing was stolen. The case was reported to ZRP Central.
26 February 2022, 20:10, Residential Site, Earls Road, Alexandra Park: An alarm signal was received and a response team were dispatched. Intruders removed five panels off of the wall. The wall is one and a half metres with no fence on top. The building appeared intact. Nothing was reported stolen. A guard was sent to man the broken wall.
24 February 2022, 00:38, Residential Site, Normanton Close, Marlborough: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Our team met the client’s daughter on arrival who said she woke up to an intruder in her bedroom. The Intruder fled through the kitchen window. The client has a standalone alarm system. The intruders cut the electric fence to gain entry and the electric fence did not have power at the time of the incident. They then cut the burglar bars of the kitchen window which was left open. Cash, a laptop and a phone were stolen. The case was reported to ZRP Marlborough.
23 February 2022, 00:50, Residential Site, Alderson Close, Greendale: A non-client called our control room requesting a reaction team. A break in occurred at the main house, whilst there was a resident staying in the cottage. Our team arrived in five minutes and found the gate wide open, an unknown number of intruders stole cash, a TV set, cellphones, and a BMW car which was parked in the yard. Rhodesville police attended the scene.
21 February 2022, 23:48, Commercial Site, Golden Stairs Road, Mount Pleasant: An alarm signal was received and our response team arrived in three minutes. Our team discovered the point of entry was two broken windows at the back. Once inside, our team heard noises and discovered that the intruder fled through the toilet window. Marlborough attended the scene. A laptop was reported stolen from the site. Key holders suspect that the incident was an inside job.
21 February 2022, 01:27, Residential Site, Kenhill Way, Helensvale: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. An unknown number of intruders entered into the house via the main entrance door which was unlocked. They stole cellphones, laptops some cash, and some electronic equipment. Borrowdale Police attended the scene.
17 February 2022, 01:13, Residential Site, Coleshill Close, Greendale: The client’s daughter phoned around 01:13 requesting for a response team as there were intruders on site. The team met the client’s daughter who informed them that an unknown number of intruders cut the burglar bars of the kitchen window and forced it open. They triggered the alarm and ran away empty handed. No alarm signal was received. An officer from Highlands Police Station attended the scene. The property has a two metre panelled wall with spikes on top.
15 February 2022, 02:22, Residential Site, Gelcon Avenue, Greendale: A response team was dispatched after an alarm signal was received from the site. Upon arrival, the team discovered that intruders had cut the electric fence but failed to access the premise. No losses were reported.
15 February 2022, 03:58, Residential Site, Newton Spicer Drive, Highlands: A client called the control room and reported a break in on site. A response team was dispatched and upon arrival they discovered that intruders broke through the kitchen window which does not have a burglar bar, and entered the house. The client is yet to determine what was stolen. The security perimeter is two metres high with an electric fence on top. The access point could not be determined. No alarm signal received.
14 February 2022, 03:20, Residential Site, Princess Drive, Newlands: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The team met the client who informed them that at least one intruder scaled the wall, forced open the dining room window and fished out a school bag and ran away. The client declined police involvement.
13 February 2022, 00:49, Base Station, Porter Road, Waterfalls: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. Upon arrival, the team discovered that intruders had cut the palisade bars and covered two cameras with cloth. No fuel spillages were reported and the containers had not been tampered with.
13 February 2022, 02:00, Dhlela Way and Conald, Graniteside: Intruders cut the razor wire and stole a laptop and clothes that belong to an internal guard. Nothing was stolen from the client.
09 February 2022, 01:48, Business Premise, Northway, Prospect: A panic signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. Upon arrival, the team discovered that intruders had cut the razor wire and jumped over the wall. The intruders vandalised an outside sensor. The intruders fled the scene when the alarm sounded. No losses reported.
07 February 2022, 07:32, Residential Site, Churchill Avenue, Alexandra Park: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. An unknown number of intruders jumped into the yard, forced open the main door and stole 4 solar batteries, a Samsung TV, two printers, DVR and a camera. The case was reported to Avondale Police.
06 February 2022, 22:30, Industrial Site, Alpes Road, Pomona: An alert guard who was monitoring the CCTV saw six intruders accessing the premise. The guard blew his whistle and alerted the other guards resulting in the intruders fleeing the scene. A response team was dispatched and upon arrival it was discovered that the intruders had broken through the electric fence.
02 February 2022, 02:18, Residential Site, Groombridge Road, Mount Pleasant: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Intruders cut six strands of electric fence at two different points. They forced open a store room door and stole four by 20 litres of jerry cans full of fuel and a 40 metre power cable.
02 February 2022, 02:30, Residential Site, Twickenham Drive, Mount Pleasant: A phone call was received requesting a reaction team to the address. Two houses on the property were broken into whilst the occupants were sleeping inside. Various electronics including cellphones, tablets, a sound bar and a decoder were stolen.
Theft
24 February 2022, 04:29, Residential Site, Belper Close, Mount Pleasant: An alarm signal was received and a response team were dispatched. The gate motor was stolen. Marlborough police attended the scene. Everything else was in order.
24 February 2022, 01:46, Commercial Site, The Chase, Mount Pleasant: A phone call was received reporting strange noises at the gate. Our team arrived in one minute. Upon checking our team noticed intruders attempting to break the metal cage that houses the gate motor but ran away. Everything appeared in order. The case was reported to ZRP Avondale.
20 February 2022, 04:25, Residential Site, Glen Forest, Borrowdale: A panic signal was received and a response team were dispatched. The team arrived in 12 minutes due to distance. On arrival the team met the client and a private guard who pressed the panic button when he saw an intruder running away with a battery stolen from a Toyota RunX which was parked in the yard. The yard is surrounded by a two-metre diamond fence and our team could not locate the point of entry. A police report was made.
11 February 2022, 02:24, Residential Site, Alexander Drive, Hatfield: A client called the control room and requested that a response team be dispatched to the residence. Upon arrival, the team discovered that intruders had stolen a rim and battery that were on the verandah.
11 February 2022, 02:00, Industrial Site, Anthony Avenue, Msasa: A guard on site raised the control room and informed the controller of a theft on site. Intruders accessed the premise and stole a battery from a vehicle parked on site.
04 February 2022, Unknown, Retail Site, Mutare Road, Msasa: A guard on site reported the theft of a radio from the premise.
01 February 2022, 03:26, Residential Site, Glen Clova Avenue, Highlands: A phone call was received reporting intruders on site, a response team was dispatched. Intruders cut and stole three full length ZESA cables. The client fired three warning shots in the air and the intruders fled the scene. Guards in the area had advised our mobile team nearby that they heard gunshots. Some cables were recovered near Montgomery Road. Highlands Police and Zesa were advised.
Intrusion
20 February 2022, 20:49, Residential Site, Newton Spicer drive, Highlands: The guard on site pressed his panic button when he saw an intruder jumping from his contract going into the next yard. Our team arrived and saw footmarks on the wall. Nothing was reported stolen or damaged.
17 February 2022, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Sande Crescent, Graniteside: A guard manning the premise raised to control room that there was an intruder on site. The intruder saw the guard and fled. However, he left a 1.5 metre wooden plank that he was using as a weapon. An employee reported that their bag and phone charger had been stolen.
13 February 2022, Industrial Site, Henley Drive, Waterfalls: An alert guard arrested an intruder who had jumped over the fence and into the premise.
BULAWAYO
Armed Robbery
26 February 2022, 18:02, Residential Site, Tayport Road, Killarney: A response team was dispatched after a panic signal was received from the site. Upon arrival, the team was informed that two intruders forcibly accessed the premise and started demanding money. The clients’ ten-year-old child, who was in the bathroom, heard the noise and pressed the alarm. The intruders fled the scene when the alarm activated, damaging the sensors as they exited the door. No losses or injuries reported.
03 February 2022, 02:00, Fuel Station, Khami Road, Makokoba: Two suspects arrived on site pretending to have run out of fuel. The suspects requested to buy five litres of fuel which they wanted poured in a container. Thirty minutes later, the suspects came back with a third suspect and accused the petrol attendant of short changing them of the fuel. The third said he came to confirm if the first two had really bought fuel from the site. As the petrol attendant tried to explain, one of the suspects produced a firearm and pointed it at the attendant’s stomach. The suspects demanded money, cut the attendant’s money bag with a knife and fled the scene the money. The attendant pressed the panic button and a response team was dispatched and arrived within five minutes.
Robbery
11 February 2022, 08:00, Public Location, Joshua Nkomo Street, City Centre: A guard reported that he had been robbed of his bag by three suspects.
Break In
19 February 2022, 01:25, Retail Site, Fort Street, Makokoba: Intruders cut the burglar bars and removed the glass panel from one of the doors and entered the premise. The intruders removed an undisclosed amount of clothing from the shop floor and packed it in bags. Some petty cash was also taken from the cash box. The alarm activated whilst the intruders were still inside the shop and the intruders fled the scene. A response team was dispatched to the site and police attended the scene.
14 February 2022, Unknown Time, Business Premise, Lobengula Street, Makokoba: A client called in to report a break in on site. Intruders broke the front door padlocks and took a tray of meat and cash from the cashboxes before fleeing the scene. No alarm activation received.
13 February 2022, Unknown Time, Business Premise, George Silundika Avenue, City Centre: The client called the control room and informed the operator that there had been a break in onsite. Intruders gained access into the building through the roof, broke through two safes and fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The alarm did activate twice and a response team was dispatched to the site although the keyholder could not attend to make checks.
10 February 2022, 15:04, Business Premise, Swansea Street, Belmont: A client called the control room and informed the operator that had a break in on site. An intruder broke a warehouse window and drilled through a wall. The intruder used grinders to open the wall safe but aborted the mission, and proceeded to climb onto the roof. The intruder broke the top window and used a home-made rope ladder to enter a warehouse. Once inside, the intruder vandalised the radio panel and climbed out of the building. The client is yet to advise what was stolen.
04 February 2022, Unknown Time, Base Station, Mountain View: An alarm signal was received and response team was dispatched. Upon arrival, the team met with a technician and discovered that intruders cut through the palisade bars and stole diesel from the generator.
03 February 2022, Unknown Time, Retail Site, Lobengula Street, City Centre: Intruders used bolt cuttersto cut through the screen door and accessed the premise. Fifteen cellphones and some items of clothing were stolen and fled the scene. It appears that the intruders were looking for money but failed to find it. The alarm history shows that the alarm was armed but did not activate. The incident was then discovered the next morning.
01 February 2022, 03:50, Residential Site, St Helens, Parklands: Intruders accessed the premise and stole a television, microwave, inverter and two solar batteries. The resident was sleeping when the incident happened and only heard the noise as the intruders were leaving. The resident pressed a panic button and a response team was dispatched. The microwave was later recovered in the nearby bushes.
Theft
25 February 2022, 14:00, Industrial Site, Anthony Taylor Drive, Makokoba: A guard on site reported that a car radio was stolen from an employee’s vehicle. The vehicle has been parked on site for over a month and the employee is not sure at what point the radio was stolen. No signs of forced entry were seen on the vehicle.
24 February 2022, Commercial Site, Josiah Tongogara, City Centre: A guard on site reported that two suspects drove onto the premise in a silver vehicle with registration number ACC9339. The suspects broke the fender of a staff member’s vehicle before jumping over the fence and fleeing the scene.
24 February 2022, Industrial Site, Khami Road, Kelvin West: Two employees were apprehended by a guard for stealing two bags filled with cutting steels. The employees were released by the client as he chose to give them the benefit of the doubt.
14 February 2022, 16:20, Retail Site, Milnerton Drive, Woodlands: An employee was apprehended after he was in the possession of liquor he had stolen from the shop. The employee was handed over to the police.
MANICALAND
MUTARE
Robbery
24 February 2022, 05:00, Public Area, Chigomba, Sakubva: A guard who was on his way to his shift was robbed of his clothing, cellphone and shoes. The matter was reported to Sakubva police station.
Break in
4 February 2022, 22:15, Residential Site, Arcadia Road, Morningside: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Two wall panels were broken, nothing was reported missing. The damaged area was temporarily fixed.
Theft
17 February 2022, 06:34, Commercial Site, Tembwe Street, Park Cottages: Steel was stolen off of the premises. A suspicious vehicle had been seen the previous night and informed the guard at the time that he was an employee.
02 February 2022, Unknown Time, Commercial Site, Herbert Chitepo, City Centre: A shoplifter was apprehended and taken to Mutare Central for the theft of clothing.
01 February 2022, 17:47, Commercial Site, Aerodrome Road, Westlea: A theft of a laptop was reported from the transport department.
RUSAPE
Intruder
17 February 2022, 00:10, Commercial Site, Woodcroft, Rusape: An intruder was arrested and uplifted to the nearest police station. However, it was deemed that she was mentally ill and was released.
MASHONALAND EAST
GOROMONZI
Theft
24 February 2022, 01:30, Farm, Goromonzi: A response team was dispatched after the farm manager called the control room reporting a suspicious vehicle on site. Upon arrival, the team found two occupants in an SUV. The vehicle had beef meat from a cow that had been slaughtered. The two were handed over to the police.
MIDLANDS
GWERU
Theft
17 February 2022, Unknown Time, Business Premise, Gweru City Centre: A cellphone was stolen from one of the offices. Guards on site.
KWEKWE
Theft
12 February 2022, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Kwekwe: An excavator battery was stolen from the workshop. No signs of forced entry reported. Guard on site.