JULY 2021 OVERVIEW
The incidents of break-in and theft remain constant though with criminals targeting individuals and businesses known to have significant amounts of cash. It is believed that these criminals have inside information on which individuals or sites are known to have large amounts of money. Safeguard urges clients to avoid disclosing information that may encourage criminals to target a site. Ensure all points of access are closed in the evening and that your alarm is armed. Break-ins often occur as a result of a door being left unlocked or an alarm being unarmed.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has reported that murder over petty issues is on the increase.
*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
Targets
Car batteries – Particularly in industrial areas, cars and trucks have had their batteries stolen.
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
- Forced entry by jumping over the durawall, cutting the electric fence and forcing open a door is the most common modus operandi.
- The kitchen door, back door and windows without burglar bars are the most vulnerable access points at residential sites.
Security Advice
- Regularly test your alarm system and a panic button to avoid. Contact Safeguard Alarms for any technical assistance.
- Most incidents occur in the evening and at night. Ensure your gate is closed and any windows and doors are closed in the evenings. Having security lights and a well-lit property is a deterrent for break-ins and thefts.
- Avoid disclosing your routine and business operations as criminals have been known to target those who they have inside information on.
Outlook
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.
JULY 2021 INCIDENT SUMMARIES
HARARE
Break in
1 July 2021, 01:17, Industrial Site, Edison Crescent, Graniteside – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. An unknown number of intruders cut the diamond fence to gain entry to the premises and then cut the key for the screen door. The intruders fled when the alarm sounded. Nothing was reported stolen.
6 July 2021, 00:53, Residential Site, St Andrews Road, Hatfield – A panic signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. Intruders had removed one durawall panel on the eastern side. The caretaker said that nothing was disturbed inside the house. The client was out of the country. Hatfield police attended the following morning.
7 July 2021, 01:07, Industrial Site, Bristol Road, Workington – Guards on site raised to control room that intruders broke 5 durawall panels to gain access to the property. The intruders forced entry into the tuckshop on site. It was undetermined if anything was stolen. A report was made to ZRP Mbare.
7 July 2021, Unknown Time, Commercial Site, Sunway City – Intruders were reported on site. A reaction team was dispatched. Intruders cut razor wire to gain access to the property. There were 5 intruders carrying 20 litre containers. However, they were disturbed by the guards and left empty-handed.
7 July 2021, 13:33, Religious Site, Kuwadzana 2 – An alarm signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. The caretaker suspected the break in took place the previous night. Intruders forced open the back door and broke the screen door to gain entry. Three computers were stolen. Kuwadzana police attended the scene.
10 July 2021, 23:39, Base Station, Sunningdale – An alarm signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. On arrival two intruders were seen running away from the booster. A camera was covered in cloth, two palisade bars were cut and one palisade bar was cut to the generator cage. However, nothing appeared stolen. Sunningdale police attended the scene.
8 July 2021, 02:33, Residential Site, Epping Road, Mount Pleasant – A Break in was reported and a reaction team was dispatched. They gained access into the house by breaking some windows which did not have burglar bars. They stole a handbag containing cash. Marlborough Police attended the scene. The alarm system was not armed.
9 July 2021, 02:07, Commercial Site, Phillips Avenue, Belgravia – An alarm signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. Intruders broke into the office via the main door but nothing appeared stolen. Avondale police attended the scene.
11 July 2021, 02:49, Residential Site, Lillesdon Road, Greendale – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Intruders had cut the electric fence in the neighboring property. A night guard was requested in fear that the intruders would return to steal.
13 July 2021, 21:51, Residential Site, Edmonds Avenue, Belvedere – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. When checking the team saw that intruders attempted to gain entry by forcing open a reception window by using an iron bar. However, they did not gain access to the building. Nothing was reported stolen. The caretaker on site never heard the alarm. The keyholder said they would attend the following day.
13 July 2021, 22:31, Residential Site, Chivango Road, Zengeza 3 – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Intruders got onto the verandah which was unlocked and cut and stole an alarm sensor and went away. The key holder declined police involvement.
13 July 2021, 02:20, Base Station, Pioneers, Glen View 2 – An alarm signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. The team discovered that two outside palisade bars on the eastern side were cut and one bar on the generator was cut. No diesel spillages were seen on the ground. Nothing assumed stolen. Glen View police attended the scene. Crush Security deployed two guards.
14 July 2021, 00:08, Commercial Site, Nelson Mandela Street, City Centre – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The front window was smashed by a brick. The key holder attended and said nothing was stolen. A guard was requested to man the broken window for the rest of the night.
15 July 2021, 09:20, Base Station, Kirkman Road, Ashdown Park – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The team met with Crush Security guards who said that there was a break-in around 04:00, no signal was received at that time. Intruders broke two palisade bars on the eastern side and the generator cage was cut. The intruders fled when the guard on site blew his whistle. Nothing was stolen. Mabelreign Police attended the scene.
21 July 2021, 05:07, Base Station, Plymouth Road, Southerton – An alarm signal was received and a team was dispatched. Six batteries were recovered just outside the premises. Intruders twisted a palisade bar on the eastern side to gain access into the premises. The case reported to Mbare Police.
22 July 2021, 19:18, Residential Site, Eastern Road, Greendale – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Intruders cut the burglar bars of the dining room window but fled empty-handed when the alarm sounded. The client refused police involvement as nothing was stolen.
23 July 2021, 02:32, Residential Site, Mull Road, Belvedere – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The team met the caretaker who said an unknown number of intruders forced open the kitchen door after cutting the burglar bars with a bolt cutter and got into the kitchen. The intruders took a bag of meat from the fridge and a container which was on top of the fridge before fleeing the scene. The key holder declined police involvement.
23 July 2021, 22:29, Residential Site, Kew Drive, Highlands – An alarm signal was received and a response team was sent. The resident had been asleep whilst her alarm activated. Intruders entered her bedroom through a window which was left open. She woke up to all her drawers open and some things scattered on the floor. She was unsure if anything was stolen. Highlands Police attended the scene.
26 July 2021, 04:07, industrial Site, Cam Road, Arcadia – A guard reported a break-in in the next door contract which is guarded by an external guard. Six computers, laptops, and cash were stolen.
26 July 2021, 11:00, Commercial Site, Budiriro 1 – Intruders broke into the building through the roof by removing a plastic sheet. They broke into several shops and stole goods.
27 July 2021, 00:51, Residential Site, Monavale Road, Monavale – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. Intruders tried to force entry into the house through the backdoor but failed and fled when the alarm sounded. Avondale police attended the scene.
29 July 2021, 01:10, Residential Site, Broughton Drive, Sunridge – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The client heard her tenant screaming from the cottage. An intruder entered the cottage hit her with an unknown object, stole her phone, and ran away. Police attended the scene.
30 July 2021, 20:44, Residential Site, Keymer Avenue, Mabelreign – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The client heard a noise coming from her roof. On arrival, the team noted that intruders tried to get into the house through the roof. They removed three roof tiles but fled the scene empty-handed when they were noticed.
31 July 2021, 00:59, Commercial Site, Telford Road, Graniteside – Razor wire was cut on the western side by intruders. The reaction team attended the scene. Everything appeared in order and there was no sign of a break-in.
Theft
12 July 2021, 01:58, Residential Site, North Way, Prospect – A panic signal was received and a team was dispatched. Intruders had attempted to steal a Zesa transformer from the yard. The transformer was left hanging by a few bolts. All the oil had spilled on the ground. Waterfalls police attended the scene.
14 July 2021, 03:06, Residential Site, Ashdown Close, Glen Lorne – A phone call was received from a client staying in Greendale to attend to her property in Glen Lorne which had intruders. The site is currently under construction. The intruders had stolen Zesa cables which were later recovered in a nearby bush. Zesa was advised and a police report was made.
14 July 2021, 03:57, Residential Site, Yarmouth Avenue, The Grange – Intruders jumped over the durawall and attempted to steal the gate motor. The gate motor cage was tampered with but nothing was stolen.
21 July 2021, 02:58, Industrial Site, Lorely Crescent, Msasa – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Intruders had jumped over the durawall and attempted to remove a battery terminal but fled empty handed.
31 July 2021, 06:29, Residential Site, Athlone Avenue, Greendale – The client pressed her panic button when he noticed his Ford Ranger twin cab was stolen from his front yard. Also, three wheel covers were stolen from a commuter. The client heard noises around 2am but when he checked he didn’t notice anyone outside. The case was reported to Rhodesville Police.
Theft from a Vehicle
5 July 2021, 10:10, Industrial Site, Nuffield Road, Workington – Thieves driving a Toyota Corolla stole the spare wheel of a car which was parked outside the contract.
18 July 2021, 04:57, Commercial Site, Kelvin Road North, Graniteside – The external guard on site reported that six intruders removed eight batteries from lorries on site. Three batteries were recovered outside the yard and five were found inside the yard. Intruders jumped over the palisade bars where there is broken razor wire and used a nearby tree to enter the premises. Smash Security said they would make a police report.
26 July 2021, 04:08, Industrial Site, Delport Road, Sunway City – A panic signal was received and a team was dispatched. Private guards saw an intruder draining fuel from a truck. The intruder fled leaving two 25 litre plastic containers, one was full of diesel and the other was half full.
Intruder
21 July 2021, 23:18, Residential Site, Chitungwiza Unit B – A phone call was received asking for a response team and they were dispatched. Intruders were throwing stones into the front yard and damaged the front light, window, asbestos on the kitchen, dining room, toilet and passage. Makoni Police attended the scene.
25 July 2021, 21:44, Residential Site, Palmer Road, Milton Park – A client called in requesting a response team to her alternate address as the caretaker suspected intruders on site. The team checked and everything appeared in order.
Robbery
3 July 2021, 00:31, Industrial Site, Coventry Road, Workington – An alarm signal was received and a reaction team was dispatched. On arrival the team met with robbers who were disguised as security guards from a reputable company. They did not suspect anything as they knew that this site was covered by these guards One of the robbers pointed a pistol and ordered the team to lie down. They were handcuffed and thrown in an office. The other guards were tied up with their shoelaces. The robbers broke a reception window. When inside they used bolt cutters to break open an xpanda door. The safe was blown up with explosives. A significant amount of US dollars was stolen. The robbers fled in the reaction vehicle. The vehicle was later recovered at Robert Square. The case was reported to ZRP Mbare.
31 July 2021, 17:50, Residential Site, Mount Pleasant Heights, Mount Pleasant – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. A woman and her four daughters were robbed at their gate. The men had followed them in their car and stopped them at the gate. The men smashed the windscreen and the windows. They stole handbags, cash, car keys and four cellphones.
BULAWAYO
Intruder
3 July 2021, 20:53, Leisure Centre, Fairbridge Way, Malindela – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. They met with the guard on site who saw intruders run into a nearby bush. Our team pursued the intruders but they ran away. The client said they would view the security cameras the next day. There was no sign of forced entry or damage to the property. The intruders stole the torch of the guard.
19 July 2021, 23:16, Fuel Station, Khami Road, Kelvin – A panic signal was received and a reaction team was sent. Two trespassers driving a Ford were found on site. The two were taken to Western Commanage Police where the constable said they would be fined.
Attempted Theft
5 July 2021, 01:37, Residential Site, Emerald Drive, Granite Park – A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The caretaker pressed the panic when who saw five intruders jumping into the yard. They cut the electric fence and had cut and separated the battery from the invertor. They fled the scene when the reaction team arrived and nothing was stolen.
Break-in
8 July 2021, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Valeview Road, Riverside – A phone call was received reported a theft and an attempted break-in the previous night. Intruders stole a car battery and had damaged the handles for the main house doors. No alarm went off and technicians were asked to attend.
10 July 2021, 07:00, Residential Site, Fortunesgate Road, Matshemhlophe – An alarm signal was received and the response team was dispatched. The team spoke to the client who said everything was in order. Later a phone call was received where the client reported a break-in of her neighbour who stays on the same premises. Intruders stole a plasma TV set. The client admitted to forgetting to arm her alarm.
10 July 2021, 03:45, Industrial Site, Bristol Road, Belmont – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. Electric cable was cut on the outside premises which fell into the premises triggering the alarm. ZRP attended the scene. Everything appeared in order.
10 July 2021, 01:00, Base Station, Nkulumane – An alarm activated and a response team was sent. An unknown number of intruders gained access by breaking the palisade bars. They tied up the guard on site and stole four batteries. The matter was reported to the police.
20 July 2021, 02:07, Residential Site, Sarah Bain Drive, Ilanda – An alarm activated and a reaction team was dispatched. The client called and said the activation was caused by her cat and didn’t require the reaction team. In the morning it was discovered that the fence was cut and clothes were stolen off of the washing line. A report was made to the police.
23 July 2021, 06:27, Educational Institution, Chelmsford Road, Selbourne Park – An alarm activation was received and a reaction team was sent. The fence was cut but there was no further sign of break-in.
23 July 2021, 08:40, Commercial Site, 13th Avenue, City Centre – A call was received reporting a break-in. Intruders had broken the toilet window to gain access to the property. The ceiling was broken and the alarm system was vandalised. The intruders stole US dollars from the cash box however left a laptop that was also in the cash box. The keyholder advised he would report the matter to the police.
24 July 2021, 10:00, Commercial Site, Fort Street, City centre – A phone call was received and a break-in was reported. Intruders gained entry through the back door and vandalised the alarm control system They stole an undisclosed amount of US dollars. Police attended the scene.
26 July 2021, 00:58, Commercial Site, Fort Street, Makokoba – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. An unknown number of intruders broke into the property. Nothing appeared to be stolen. The client refused police involvement.
29 July 2021, 00:39, Industrial Site, Khami Road, Kelvin – A panic signal was received and a response team was sent. Intruders gained access to the property through the fence. The intruders stole several bags of cement.
31 July 2021, 22:13, Residential Site, Cormorant Avenue, Burnside – A phone call was received and a response team was dispatched. The sliding door had been tampered with and a wallet with an undisclosed amount of money was stolen. The client refused police involvement.
Theft from a Vehicle
10 July 2021, Unknown Time, St Giles Road, Parklands – A panic signal was received and a team was dispatched. They met with the client who informed the team that intruders broke into her car and stole her car radio, battery and spare tyres. Khumalo Police attended the scene. The client has a panic button system only.
12 July 2021, 12:05, Commercial Site, Plumtree Road, Belmont – The guard saw a man forcing open a customer’s car and took a bag containing a laptop and work particulars. The guard chased the thief who dropped the bag and ran away. The incident was reported to management.
19 July 2021, 15:30, Commercial Site, Josiah Chinamano Road, Belmont – Suspicious people were seen breaking into the car of one of the workers. They gained access by forcing open the passenger seat door. The thieves stole a compressor.
Robbery
28 July 2021, 00:51, Industrial Site, Josiah Chinamano Road, City Centre – A phone call was made and a response team was dispatched. They found the internal security guard tied and bound with ropes. The surrounding guards were trying to untie him. The intruders gained entry by opening the toilet windows and breaking the burglar bars. They stole a significant amount of foreign currency from the safe. The case was reported to Donnington Police.
MANICALAND
Theft from a Vehicle
7 July 2021, 08:00, Industrial Site, Simon Mazorodze Road, Yeovil – Thieves attempted to strike the key from the driver to break into the vehicle. However, they were unsuccessful.
16 July 2021, 21:37, Industrial Site, St Helens Drive, Nyakamete – The cover of a truck was discovered open by the guard patrolling. Upon checking it was noticed that the batteries had been stolen. The case was reported to the police.
Theft
8 July 2021, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Simon Mazorodze Road, Yeovil – Several employees were arrested for fraud. The accused allegedly duped their employer of millions of dollars over several months by undercharging items on sale. The suspects were taken to Mutare Central Police.
17 July 2021, 02:42, Residential Site, Zimita, Chikanga – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. Some clothes were stolen off of the washing line. A report was made to the police.
Attempted Break-in
13 July 2021, 18:49, Residential Site, Upper Fifth, Avenues – An alarm activated and a response team was dispatched. The electric fence was cut. There was no sign of forced entry and everything appeared in order.
Suspicious Person
26 July 2021, 11:00, Commercial Site, Simon Mazorodze Road, Yeovil – A suspicious woman was seen heading towards the cash office. When she was searched on exit, her bag was full of US dollars. The accused was taken to the manager.
MASHONALAND EAST
Assault
2 July 2021, Unknown Time, Agricultural Site, Goromonzi – A response team was called to the site. An employee was being violent to several of his colleagues. The team successfully arrested the man and took him to ZRP Goromonzi.
MASVINGO PROVINCE
Shots Fired
27 July 2021, 02:24, Residential Site, Hofmeyer Street, Masvingo – An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The client said she heard two shots fired nearby. The team checked her property and everything was all in order. It was later confirmed that the shots came from a nearby shopping center. Masvingo CID handled the incident, no further information was disclosed.
MIDLANDS
Break-in
6 July 2021, 16:05, 7 Steedman Road, Athlone – An alarm activated and a response team was sent. The client was phoned and he said there was an attempted break-in. The main entrance door was forced open; the garage door was left unlocked. The team checked with the client and nothing was reported stolen. It is suspected the intruders ran away when they heard the alarm sounding.