MONTHLY OVERVIEW
- Armed robberies increased by 33% with criminals targeting businesses in industrial areas.
- Break-in and theft incidents increased but a majority of the incidents were recorded as preventions – intruders fled the scene when they were spotted by the guard or when the alarm activated.
- Money remains a high target with criminals using explosives in two separate break-in incidents in Bulawayo and Harare.
- Armed robberies were more common between 0000 and 0300 at business sites.
- In an incident in Masvingo, an employee was kidnapped from his home and forced to open the workplace safe during a robbery.
- In Bulawayo, an incident was reported whereby two suspects attempted to rob a fast food outlet whilst wearing Zimbabwe Republic Police uniforms.
- Though not included in this report, Safeguard has received reports of fuel theft in and around Alexandra Park.
TOTAL MONTHLY REPORTED INCIDENTS
MONTHLY CRIME BREAKDOWN
FREQUENTLY TARGETED ITEMS
HIGH RISK AREAS
SECURITY ADVICE
- Do not keep money on site overnight.
- Employees should be vigilant when working on-site overnight and when closing shop.
- Be wary of and do not ignore frequent alarm activations as criminals may be testing your reaction or the response team arrival time.
- Do not exit your house to inspect suspicious noises, rather wait for a response team to do so.
- Always lock your doors and arm your alarm in the early evenings.
- Install alarms at warehouses especially if they contain valuables and are not regularly accessed.
- Equip employees in the far flung areas with the numbers of reliable police contacts, especially if there is no reliable response service in the area.
OUTLOOK
Thank you for using Safeguard.
The Safeguard Team
CRIME SUMMARY TABLE
HARARE
Armed Robbery
29 March 2023, 0233, Industrial Site, Action Close, Willowvale: A client called the control room and reported that intruders had broken into the place. A response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team met with an external guard who reported that approximately seven male intruders who were armed with a firearm attacked him and tied him with cable ties. The intruders took the guard’s panic button and left him in the guard room as they proceeded to force open the office doors with a crowbar. The intruders stole some money from the accounts office and fled the site after twenty minutes. The guard managed to free himself and he informed one of the managers who instructed him to press a second panic button. At this point, the response team was already en route to the site.
19 March 2023, 0224, Butchery, Mutare Road, Ruwa: Five intruders who were wearing blue overalls and armed with a pistol, metal bars, bolt cutter and hammers broke through the security wall and attacked a duty guard. The intruders held up the night shift employees, took their cellphones as well as the guard’s guarding equipment. The intruders damaged the main entrance which leads to the management offices and changing rooms. The offices were ransacked but the intruders did not find any cash on site, prompting them to leave the site empty handed. The guard managed to untie himself and the employees and sought help from the checker and a neighbouring site.
15 March 2023, 0158, Business Site, Sande Crescent, Graniteside: Five intruders who were armed with pistols cut the razor wire and held up a guard. The intruders assaulted and tied up the guard before breaking into the reception. The intruders had cut the screen door to the upper offices and when they heard the response team approach the site, the intruders fled the scene empty handed. The intruders left behind a bolt cutter and a six pound hammer on site. Investigations revealed that the electric fence alarm which is not connected to Safeguard, had been switched off when the incident occurred. The response team and an armed response team were dispatched after the alarm activated when the intruders broke into the reception.
Robbery
26 March 2023, Night, Residential site, Monavale: A non-client report was received of a couple that was brutally assaulted and robbed by six intruders. The intruders severely assaulted the victims with metal poles. The male victim sustained fractures to his skull, broken ribs, and a punctured lung. The female victim sustained a broken arm with severe bruising to her body. The intruders made away with some money. No further details were provided on how the intruders accessed the site.
Break In
31 March 2023, 0239, Business Site, Dagenham Road, Willowvale: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team met with the keyholder who was opening up shop. The keyholder reported that the guards had informed him that intruders had broken into the site by breaking the security wall. No losses were reported.
30 March 2023, 0243, Business Site, Harare Drive, Chisipite: A panic signal was received from the site and response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team met with a caretaker who reported that he had seen two intruders, one carrying a stone, inside the site. The intruders fled the scene when they saw the caretaker. A guard who was manning the site reported that he did not see the intruders. No signs of intrusion were reported on site.
29 March 2023, 0315, Industrial Site, Foundry Road, Aspindale: The client reported that intruders had broken into the cash office and used a key to steal an undisclosed amount of money of money from the safe. Inspections of the site revealed that the cameras had been tampered with. No visible signs of break in were reported on the site exterior. A panic signal had been received at 0315 and the CCTV operators reported that all was in order and that no panic had been pressed.
27 March 2023, 1208, Cellphone Tower Station, Silcox Avenue, Houghton Park: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had covered the camera with a cloth but no losses were reported on site.
25 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Budiriro: The client reported that unknown intruders had broken into the site after forcing open the back door and pushing through an unlocked screen door. According to neighbouring guards, the intruders were armed with a crowbar and other undisclosed weapons. The intruders forced open the cash office and inserted explosives in the safe key hole. The explosives were detonated but the safe did not open. The intruders fled the scene when they noted that the explosion had attracted the attention of the neighbouring guards.
20 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Enterprise Road, Highlands: The control room received a phone call from the client at around 0810 requesting for a response team to attend as she suspected a break in. A team was dispatched and the team uplifted the police from Highlands Police Station on their way to the scene. Once on site, the team reported that there was no sign of break in on the durawall. The intruder is suspected to have removed some roof top tiles to gain entry into the client’s office. The client confirmed that no property was stolen.
20 March 2023: 0156, Quorn Avenue, Mount Pleasant: Client called the control room requesting a response team. A response team was dispatched to the site and on arrival the team reported that intruders cut eight electric fence strands on top of a one and half panelled durawall on the southern side of the contract to gain entrance into the yard. The intruders drained 50 litres of diesel from a Chevrolet vehicle (which was recovered by our team at the durawall). There was no alarm coverage were the car was parked and the fence did not have power when the intrusion took place. The client reported that he pressed the panic button but there was no signal received only the alarm sounded on the premise.
17 March 2023, 1953, Business Site, Kelvin North Road, Graniteside: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team met with an external guard who reported that there were intruders on site. A second response team was dispatched and the teams managed to apprehend an intruder who was in the process of stealing electric motors from vehicles. The intruder who stays in the area, confessed that he regularly steals from the site with an accomplice. The intruder led the team to his accomplices who had fled the scene and another suspect was arrested.
13 March 2023, 0136, Industrial Site, Highfield Road, Southerton: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had damaged the security wall and broken the screen door padlock. The alarm activated when the intruders opened the wooden door and the intruders fled the scene empty handed. The external guard who was on site reported that he had not heard the intruders enter the site but that he was woken up by the sounding alarm.
13 March 2023, 1552, Cellphone Tower Station, Bulawayo Road, Kuwadzana: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team reported that they had met a technician who reported a break in. A check of the site revealed that intruders had broken the main gate and main door and twisted the camera. Nothing was reported stolen from the site.
10 March 2023, 2250, Residential Site, Steppes Road, Highlands: A non client resident called the control room requesting a response team as she suspected intruders on site. A response team was dispatched and on arrival, they checked the site and reported that all was in order.
7 March 2023, 0429, Cellphone Tower Station, Highfield: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team with an external guard who reported that he had seen six intruders vandalising the palisade bars. The intruders fled the scene in their getaway vehicle, a Honda Fit when the external guard raised alarm.
6 March 2023, 0124, Industrial Site, Kelvin North Road, Graniteside: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team met with the guard and reported that intruders had forced open a front door and fled the scene when the alarm sounded. The front of the entrance does not have a security wall.
3 March 2023, 0247, Residential Site, Harare Drive, Mount Pleasant: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. The client called but was unaware of what had triggered the alarm but later confirmed that she had seen an unknown person in the yard. The client reported that the intruder was unarmed. The intruder was apprehended and it was discovered that he was under the influence of drugs after seeing a smoking pipe and lighter in his pocket. The team reported that the intruder could not tell how he ended up in the yard due to level of drunkenness. The police from Marlborough was uplifted by our team and took the suspect to the station, an RRB was supplied.
1 March 2023, 1849, Business Site, Kelvin North Road, Graniteside: An alarm activated during the night, and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team checked the site and reported that all was in order. The next day, the client reported that intruders had broken through the security wall and stolen some pots and plates from the workshop kitchen.
1 March 2023, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Greendale: A client sent in an email and reported that intruders had cut the electric fence and stolen a gate motor from the site.
Theft
31 March 2023, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Birmingham Road, Southerton: A client reported that there was vandalism of cables and some goods had been stolen from a disused warehouse. It is unclear when the theft occurred as the incident was only discovered when a technician attended to fix some cables on site.
28 March 2023, 1330, Industrial Site, Highfield: A client called the control room and reported that intruders jumped over the security wall and stole a vehicle battery from a vehicle parked on site. The site has a stand-alone alarm system but no signal was received.
19 March 2023, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Drew Road, Kambanji: A client called the control room and reported that a solar panel had been stolen from the roof. It is unclear when the solar panel was stolen as the client is not consistently at the residence.
19 March 2023, 1525, Educational Institution, Fisher Avenue, Rolf Valley: A guard reported that a speaker had been stolen from a vehicle parked on site.
16 March 2023, Unknown Time, Retail Site, Belvedere: The client reported that the toilet system was stolen from the site. The client reported that the toilet was locked when the incident took place. No further details were reported on the incident.
17 March 2023, 0103, Business Site, Coventry Road, Workington: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team met with external guards who reported that they had seen an intruder stealing solar lights from the site.
16 March 2023, Unknown Time, Educational Institution, Basset Crescent, Alexandra Park: A theft of undisclosed goods was reported on site.
15 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Willowvale: A report was received from the site that a mechanic had been caught stealing diesel and a tent from a vehicle parked on site. The site has guards on site.
11 March 2023: 1816, Business Premise, Winch don Rlu, Hatcliffe: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched. On checking the man holes in the maize field near Philadelphia Junior School, the team discovered that the man hole was opened and the cable was cut. The also met an external security team that had just reported for work and both teams confirmed that the other man holes were intact.
7 March 2023, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Woolwich Road, Willowvale: Two client employees were apprehended after they attempted to steal 10x50kgs of flour from the site. The flour was recovered outside the factory plant.
6 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Erith Road, Willowvale: A client reported that there was a continuous theft of diesel from the site.
6 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Borrowdale Road, Borrowdale: Guards on site raised the control room and reported that six man hole drainage covers had been stolen. (This is the second incident of this nature at the site in the past two months).
5 March 2023, 1306, Public Location, Dumfries Road, Workington: A patrolling response team apprehended two suspects whom they found pushing a crat full of metals. The pair was apprehended after they failed to explain where they got the metals which included round poles, angle lines and scaffold transverse bracings.
4 March 2023, 1600, Hardware, Harare Street, Harare City Centre: A client reported that as he was closing the shop with his wife, a vehicle with four occupants parked at the shop entrance. One of the occupants disembarked from the vehicle and grabbed the client’s wife’s bag and fled the scene.
2 March 2023, 1130, Business Site, Paisley Road, Workington: Two guards arrested a male suspect whom they found stealing wheel covers in the parking lot.
1 March 2023, 0114, Industrial Site, Birmingham Road, Southerton: A panic signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team met with external guards who reported that intruders had stolen 15x50kgs of rice that was in a truck. The intruders reportedly cut the tent trailer and loaded the rice into their vehicle.
BULAWAYO
Armed Robbery
19 March 2023, 0114, Fast Food Outlet, Hillside: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team met the manager who reported that there had been an attempted robbery. He reported that two intruders wearing Zimbabwe Republic Police uniforms who were armed with a pistol and knife, broke in through the main door. The intruders turned off the alarm by rubbing an identified object on it and gained entry to the outlet. The intruders held up the manager and external guard and forced the manager to the safe. A vehicle approached the site and the intruders fled the scene with the safe keys. Police attended to the scene.
10 March 2023, 0500, Business Site, Khami Road, Bulawayo: A client called the control room and reported that there had been a robbery on site. Four intruders who were armed with a pistol held up the external guards and broke into the workshop office. The intruders broke the padlock and used an angle grinder to cut the bottom of the door to avoid the magnetic sensor. The intruders used the grinder on the strong room door and cut open two safes. Money was taken from the safes and a laptop was taken from the site. The alarm did not activate as the intruders had vandalized the alarm system.
Robbery
15 March 2023, 2340, Cellphone Tower Station, Cowdry Park: An external guard reported that he had been attacked by two intruders who were armed with machetes and knives. The guard was tied up and the intruders forced their way into the site. As the intruders were breaking into the site, the guard screamed for help which alerted a nearby guard. The intruders then fled the scene empty-handed.
Break In
29 March 2023, 0757, Residential Site, Gladstone Avenue, Bellevue: An alarm activation was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that the storeroom door and a cottage window had been broken. An intruder had attempted to steal a solar inverter and battery but fled the scene empty-handed when the alarm activated.
27 March 2023, Unknown Time, Business Site, Jason Moyo Street, Bulawayo City Centre: A client called the control room reporting a break-in. Intruders broke into the site through the back door and destroyed the CCTV cables and alarm system. The intruders stole some cellphones from the site and fled the scene. The external guard who was on site reported that he had not heard the incident take place.
20 March 2023, 0100, Fuel Station, Cecil Avenue, Hillside: A guard called the control room and reported that he had heard an explosion on site. A response team was dispatched and on arrival, the team met with the guard and a response team from Fawcett, and checked the site. The teams found an intruder hiding at the back of the site. On searching the intruder, he was found in possession of money, explosives and a detonator. The intruder was handed over into police custody and the client was called in to inspect the site. Inspections revealed that the intruder had blown off the safe and stolen some money from the site. Some of the money was recovered from the Fawcett response team.
13 March 2023, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Khumalo: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had broken a burglar bar at the kitchen and removed a set of keys which were hanging inside the kitchen. The intruders took the keys and opened the cottage. The intruders fled the scene empty-handed when they realised that the client had seen them.
11 March 2023, 0620, Residential Site, Burtler Road, Khumalo: A former client called the control room and reported a break-in on-site. A response team was dispatched to the contract and on arrival, the team reported that the electric fence had been cut and the kitchen door had been forced open. No losses were reported. The alarm did not activate as the alarm was out of service and no linked to Safeguard Alarms.
11 March 2023, 0405, Residential Site, White Road, Khumalo, Bulawayo: A panic signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched to the site. Upon arrival, the team reported that the intruder had broken into the house but fled the scene when they bumped into a resident who was sleeping in the house. The resident pressed the panic button prompting the response team to be dispatched. The police were uplifted and attended to the scene.
11 March 2023, 0402, Residential Site, St Giles Road, Parklands: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team reported that the burglar bars had been broken but no valuables were stolen. The client reported that the intruder fled the site once he noticed that he had been seen. The matter was reported to the police who also attended to the scene.
11 March 2023, 0201, Residential Site, St Giles Road, Parklands: A panic signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had broken into a vehicle parked on site and stolen some documents from the vehicle. The intruders also broke into the house but fled the scene without any goods when the client pressed the panic button.
10 March 2023, 0216, Cellphone Tower Station, Bellevue: An alarm activation was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had attempted to enter the site but fled the scene empty-handed when the alarm activated.
7 March 2023, 0417, Residential Site, Old Esigodini Road, Matsheumhlope: A panic signal was received from the site and the response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that intruders had cut the burglars but fled the scene empty-handed when one of the residents woke up. The team uplifted the police from Hillside who attended the scene.
5 March 2023, 2219, Cellphone Tower Station, Airport Road, Queens Park: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the team reported that the perimeter palisade fence was cut, the cameras were twisted facing upwards and containers (3x 210 litres and 2×20 litres) were found outside the base station near the generator. The team attempted to uplift the police from Queens Park station to attend to the scene but the police reported they could only attend to the scene later. The containers were taken to Safeguard offices for safekeeping.
2 March 2023, 0155, Residential Site, Key Avenue West, Somerton: An alarm signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. Upon arrival, the team together with the care taker checked the premises and reported there was no sign of break-in or vandalism. In the morning, the site key holder played back the CCTV and reported that two intruders had jumped over the security wall and broken the building padlock but fled the scene when the alarm activated.
Theft
30 March 2023, 0100, Industrial Site, Basch Street, Makokoba: A CCTV operator reported that approximately seven intruders attempted to steal some goods from a parked vehicle. The CCTV operator alerted a patrolling guard who rushed to the vehicle. The intruders fled the scene empty-handed.
28 March 2023, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Kelvin West: A guard reported that a cylinder was stolen from the site.
25 March 2023, 1240, Business Site, Robert Mugabe Way, Bulawayo City Centre: A guard reported that two copper pipes and a water valve were stolen from the back yard which doesn’t have a guard.
25 March 2023, 2100, Industrial Site, Basch Street, Makokoba: A guard apprehended an individual who was found in possession of some goods stolen from the site.
21 March 2023, 1446, Retail Site, Chinamano Road, Raylton: Unknown suspects driving a red Honda Fit broke into a vehicle parked on site and stole an empty bag.
20 March 2023, 0530, Educational Institution, Chelford road, Matsheumhlope: A guard raised the control room and reported that the fence had been cut. A response team was dispatched to the site and on arrival, the response team reported that the intruders attempted to steal electricity cables but were interrupted by the residents and fled the scene empty-handed.
17 March 2023, 2013, Business Site, Connaught Avenue, Bulawayo: A guard apprehended a suspect whom he found in the possession of two solar batteries. The same individual is suspected to have stolen a spare wheel from the site on the 15th of March 2023.
15 March 2023, 2013, Business Site, Connaught Avenue, Bulawayo: A guard reported that a spare wheel had been stolen from a vehicle parked on site. There are no guards or alarms in the parking lot where the theft occurred.
14 March 2023, 1700, Industrial Site, Anthony Taylor Avenue, Steeldale: A guard apprehended a driver whom he found in the possession of concealed welding rods.
7 March 2023, 1450, Educational Institution, Livingstone Road, Bulawayo: Client called the control room and reported that there were suspicious people in a black Honda Fit vehicle parked along Pauling Road close to the institution. The suspects were seen attempting to open a vehicle belonging to a staff member.
MANICALAND
Break In
22 March 2023, 2145, Residential Site, Mutare: A guard raised the control room and reported that there was an intruder on site. A response team was dispatched and on arrival they reported that an intruder jumped over the security wall and stolen a cellphone from the guard room.
14 March 2023, 2123, Health Centre, Sakubva: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the response team reported that intruders had cut the electric fence. No losses were reported on site.
13 March 2023, 2128, Industrial Site, Liverpool Road, Nyakamete: A panic signal was received and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the response team met with a guard who had apprehended an intruder. The intruder had pushed opened the gate and proceeded to the warehouse. The guard saw the intruder and engaged another guard to assist in apprehending the intruder.
6 March 2023, 1909, Residential Site, Yeovil Extension: A panic signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the response team found that the client had locked herself in the client following an intrusion on site. Investigations revealed that two intruders entered the house through an unlocked door. The intruders encountered the client who then locked herself in the bathroom. The intruders fled the scene when the response vehicle arrived.
3 March 2023, 0537, Bank, Herbert Chitepo Street, Mutare City Centre: A guard reported that intruders had broken a front window. No losses were reported.
Theft
24 March 2023, 0857, Retail Site, Second Street, Mutare City Centre: A guard reported that he had apprehended an employee for theft. The employee had hidden some electronic supplies in a bin filled with rubbish and attempted to steal the goods.
20 March 2023, Unknown Time, Residential Site, Mutare: A guard reported that a handheld sprinkler had been stolen from the verandah.
15 March 2023, Unknown Time, Industrial Site, Liverpool Road, Nyakamete: Client called the control room and reported that 4x25kgs of rice had been stolen from the warehouse. No signs of forced entry were reported on-site and the client reported that it was possibly an internal theft.
MASHONALAND EAST
Break In
27 March 2023, 0236, Business Site, Marondera: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the team reported that they had met with the caretaker, inspected the site, and discovered a break-in. Intruders forced open the outside screen door and main entrance door with the use of a crowbar. The
intruders entered the reception and vandalized the alarm keypad before attempting to take a bunch of keys. The alarm sounded and the intruders fled the scene empty-handed.
5 March 2023, 0254, Cellphone Tower Station, Marondera: A videofied alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched to the site. The video alarm showed that the cameras had been covered and when the response team arrived on site, they reported that intruders had cut the palisade bar and covered the cameras. The fuel tank lid had been removed but there were no spillages as the intruders fled the scene when the alarm activated.
MASVINGO
Armed Robbery
13 March 2023, 2041, Retail Site, Mashava: A panic signal was received from the site, and upon following up with the site, it was reported that an armed robbery had occurred on site. Five armed suspects kidnapped a teller from his residence and forcibly took him to his workplace. Once on site, the suspects attacked the supermarket cashier and forced the teller to open the safe. The suspects took money from the safe and fled the scene in an unregistered grey Toyota.
MIDLANDS
Break In
19 March 2023, 0133, Retail Site, Industrial Road, Kwekwe: An alarm signal was received from the site and a response team was dispatched. On arrival, the response team reported that intruders had damaged an outside beam but failed to remove the beam.
13 March 2023, 0103, Residential Site, Wentworth Avenue, Southdowns: An alarm was activated on-site, and a response team was dispatched to the site. On arrival, the response team reported that intruders had cut the electric fence but no losses were reported.
Theft
4 March 2023, 0647, Industrial Site, Gweru: A guard reported that him and the dog handler recovered three used car batteries that an intruder had attempted to remove from the site. The guards had heard a noise on site and coordinated to inspect the site with a dog handler leading to the recovery.