1. MAY 2019 OVERVIEW
The present report is an overview of reported crime incidents that were reported to Safeguard nationwide in May
2019:
- There was a 26% increase in crime between April and May which can be attributed to an overall increase in crime due to the current economic deterioration, as well as an increase in the reporting of crime.
– Crime is likely to continue increasing with the main target being valuable and on demand commodities. - Overall, commercial premises remain the most vulnerable sites due to the availability of fuel, batteries and other valuable equipment on site.
– However, residential premises are vulnerable to the theft of gate motors and armed robbery as suspects target individuals whom they believe to have money, especially hard currency on site. - Break-in and thefts remain the most prevalent crimes but there has been a reported increase in the use of force in armed robbery incidents at residential premises as well as resistance (when approached) during break-in and theft incidents at commercial premises.
– Cellphone panic buttons and the Safeguard SOS app are advisable for both property owners and security guards on site to aid with speedy response to any location. - Theft from motor vehicle incidents have increased by almost 50% over the past few months and motorists are
advised to always transport their belongings in the boot as opposed to on car seats. - The following suburbs have reported a significant number of incidents over the past three (3) months and are therefore high risk:
– Greendale, Harare
– Southerton, Harare
– Msasa, Harare
– Mt Pleasant, Harare
– Greystone Park, Harare
– City Centre, Bulawayo
– Belmont, Bulawayo
– Inyati, Bulawayo
- Multiple security and response measures such as alarms, panic buttons, electronic fencing, and guards/group
patrols remain the most favourable option with regards to effective security at both residential and
commercial premises.
2. NATIONWIDE CRIME OVERVIEW, MARCH 2019 – MAY 2019
3. MONTHLY CRIME INCIDENT BREAKDOWN PER TYPE, MARCH 2019 – MAY 2019
4. TARGETED COMMODITIES, MAY 2019
5. CRIME TYPE BREAKDOWN PER PROVINCE AND SUBURB, MAY 2019
6. MAY 2019 CRIME INCIDENT SUMMARY
6.1 HARARE
16 May 2019, Attempted Hijacking, Residential Site, Northwood Rise, Mt Pleasant:
Three (3) male suspects attempted to hijack a vehicle as it approached a give way sign. No losses reported.
23 May 2019, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, John Plagis Avenue, Alexandra Park:
Three (3) armed masked suspects followed the complainants into the premises as the complainants were getting in.
The suspects ordered the complainants out of the vehicle and demanded money. The complainants were assaulted
with firearms and forced into the house. The suspects removed money, cellphones and house and car keys from the
premises and fled the scene.
08 May 2019, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Arnold Edmonds Drive, Glen Lorne:
Five (5) masked suspects entered the residence through an unknown access point. The suspects held up the
complainants and hit one (1) of the male residents with an unknown object on the head. The suspects removed
jewellery, cellphones and money from the premises.
16 May 2019, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Kennedy Drive, Greendale:
Four (4) suspects entered the premises and accessed the open doors armed with bricks. The suspects removed
money, cellphones, laptops and jewellery from the residence.
17 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Site, Hodson Avenue, Alexandra Park:
Four (4) male suspects gained access onto the premises via an undisclosed access point. The suspects broke the glass
door and removed electrical gadgets and doors from the site. The suspects packed the stolen goods into a vehicle
and fled the scene.
26 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Site, Steppes Road, Ballantyne Park:
An unknown number of suspects damaged the security fence and gained access onto the property. The suspect/s
broke the aluminium glass doors and removed a television, Macbook and iPhone from the house.
21 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Sam Nujoma Street, Belgravia:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises after cutting the razor wire. The suspect/s
attempted to remove a water tank but failed.
06 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Park Lane, City Centre:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the roof and removed an asbestos sheet. No losses reported.
26 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Site, Loxley Close, Greystone Park:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the gate and gained access onto the premises. The suspect/s forced
open the cottage and removed various household items including a mattress and a gas stove.
20 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Site, Winchombe Road, Greystone Park:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site via an undisclosed access point. The suspect/s removed
two (2) vehicle batteries from the site.
01 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Cleveland Road, Msasa:
Three (3) suspects gained access onto the property after cutting the razor wire. The suspects attempted to drain fuel
from the premises and failed.
28 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Martin Drive, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed four (4) batteries from two (2) bulldozers
on site.
11 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Whites Way, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects removed two (2) durawall panels at the site and removed two (2) batteries from
the site.
11 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Ganges Road, Ridgeview:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a battery from the site.
05 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Damafalls, Ruwa:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site and broke the palisade bars and disconnected a pipe which
connects to the generator diesel tank. It is possible that the suspects were attempting to drain fuel from the
generator.
29 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Unnamed Street, Ruwa:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and damaged the front entrance door. The suspect/s
removed an undisclosed amount of batteries from the site and fled the scene.
18 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Muonde Road, Ruwa:
An unknown number of suspects removed the durawall panels and gained access onto the site. The suspect/s
removed four (4) lorry batteries, a tyre and a welding machine from the site.
24 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Bargate Road, Vainona:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and forced entry into a service room onsite. The
suspects removed five (5) batteries from the site.
29 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Site, Edinburgh Road, Vainona:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the property, damaged the gate motor and removed the
battery and computer box.
27 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, 142nd Street, Warren Park:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site, broke open the palisades and removed the generator batteries.
Three (3) batteries were recovered fifty (50) metres from the site.
24 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, 3rd Street, Warren Park:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site, damaged the generator door but did not manage to
remove anything.
24 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Unnamed Street, Waterfalls:
An unknown number of suspects forcibly gained access onto the site but did not manage to remove anything as
there was no fuel at the site.
12 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, Wattle Road, Westgate:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the durawall and attempted to open the kitchen door. No losses
reported.
04 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Spurn Road, Ardbennie:
One (1) suspect was apprehended for removing empty bags from the property.
13 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Aspindale Road, Aspindale:
One (1) suspect, a former employee, arrived at the site and removed two (2) laptops from the site.
31 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Avenues:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site and removed a plastic bin from the premises.
21 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, King George Road, Avondale:
Two (2) suspects arrived at the site and removed clothing and footwear from some stalls. One (1) of the suspects
fled the scene whilst the other pretended to be a police officer and gave chase. The suspects were apprehended
after a Safeguard security pursued and interrogated them.
30 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Pascoe Avenue, Belgravia:
An unknown number of suspects removed padlocks from the site.
17 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Cardigan Avenue, Belvedere North:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed the gate motor.
13 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Clarendon Crescent, Belvedere North:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site via an undisclosed access point. The suspect/s removed
clothing and a brief case from the site.
02 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Hereford Road, Emerald Hill:
Six (6) suspects gained access to the site via an undisclosed access point. The suspects gained access onto the
premises and removed cellphones and money from the site. The resident raised alarm causing neighbours to
respond to the premises. The suspects attempted to flee the scene in a vehicle but crashed into a durawall and were
apprehended.
14 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Sande Crescent, Graniteside:
Two (2) employees were apprehended after removing six (6) boxes of cutting discs from the site.
02 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Old Mazoe Road, Marlborough:
Three (3) suspects approached the victim as he was using his cellphone in a tuck shop. The suspects requested to use
the victim’s phone before snatching it from the victim. The victim chased after the suspects who got into a vehicle.
The victim was dragged by the vehicle as the suspects fled the scene. Minor injuries were sustained.
20 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Loreley Crescent, Msasa:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a bicycle, five (5) litres of used oil and
twenty (20) litres of diesel from the site.
31 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Cecil Rhodes Drive, Newlands:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the property via an undisclosed access point. The suspects
removed the gate motor and fled the scene.
25 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Street, Sunway City:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed five (5) waste drums.
30 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Dumfries Road, Workington:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a firehose from the site. A blue pickup
was allegedly seen close to the site shortly after the discovery.
21 May 2019, Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Seke Road, Graniteside:
An unknown number of suspects smashed the window of a vehicle parked on site and removed bag containing
money and books.
03 May 2019, Attempted Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Hillside Road, Hillside:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the front door but did not manage to remove anything from the
vehicle.
11 May 2019, Attempted Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Hillside Road, Hillside:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the driver’s door and removed money and cellphone from a handbag
and under a seat.
30 May 2019, Attempted Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Hillside Road, Hillside:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the passenger door and removed money and passport from a
handbag.
25 May 2019, Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Unnamed Street, Kensington:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the vehicle and removed a handbag from the vehicle.
21 May 2019, Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Golden Stairs, Mt Pleasant:
An unknown number of suspects forced open the vehicle and removed a bag containing clothes and a camera from
the vehicle.
02 May 2019, Theft from Motor Vehicle, Commercial Site, Anthony Avenue, Massa:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site in a Toyota Corolla. One (1) suspect disembarked the Toyota
Corolla and approached a vehicle parked on site. The suspect smashed the rear left window of the vehicle and
removed a laptop, brief case and iPad from the vehicle. The suspect fled the scene in the Toyota Corolla.
07 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, Basset Crescent, Alexandra Park:
One (1) male suspect jumped over the durawall and gained access into the yard. The suspect encountered one (1) of
the residents and fled the scene. The suspect dropped his catapult as he fled.
22 May 2019, Intruder, Residential Site, Hampshire Road, Greendale:
Three (3) suspects jumped over the durawall and gained access to the servants’ quarters. An alarm was raised
causing the suspects to flee the scene.
05 May 2019, Intruder, Commercial Site, Queendom Road, Mabelreign:
Two (2) suspects gained access onto the site but fled the scene upon seeing a guard on site. No losses reported.
18 May 2019, Intruder, Residential Site, Link Road, Mt Pleasant:
Two (2) suspects gained access onto the premises after jumping over the wall. No losses reported.
28 May 2019, Intruder, Commercial Site, 2nd Avenue, Warren Park 1:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and damaged the generator door but did not manage
to remove anything from the site.
MASHONALAND CENTRAL
KAROI
14 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Street, Karoi:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed an undisclosed amount of beer from the
site.
MASHONALAND WEST
NORTON
12 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Joburg:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and damaged palisade bars that were on site. No losses were reported.
BULAWAYO
29 May 2019, Assault, Commercial Site, Plumtree Road:
One (1) security guard was assaulted by unknown people.
31 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Wolverhampton Road:
An unknown number of suspects jumped over the durawall and gained access onto the site. The suspect/s then
removed thirty (30) door frames from the stores and fled the scene.
08 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, George Silundika Avenue, City Centre:
Three (3) suspects jumped over the durawall and broke open one (1) of the windows to a building on site. The
suspects removed forty (40) litres diesel, two (2) iPads and money from the site. Response responded to the scene
and apprehended one (1) of the three (3) suspects.
18 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Herbert Chitepo and Leopold Takawira Street, City Centre:
An unknown number of suspects broke open a small window and fished out clothing from the building.
31 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Main Street, City Centre:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to gain access into the building after removing roof sheeting.
31 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Main Street, City Centre:
An unknown number of suspects gained access to the site and removed an undisclosed amount of stock from the
site.
07 May 2019, Armed Robbery, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Inyati:
A security guard was accosted on site by a suspect with a machete. The security guard was ordered to lie down and
the suspect opened a shaft from which two (2) suspects emerged with three (3) bags and fled the scene.
11 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Kelvin West:
Nine (9) suspects arrived at the site and attacked a security guard that was on duty. The suspects removed money,
sugar and rice from the scene and also damaged the CCTV after removing the DVR.
12 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Sixth Avenue Extension, Makokoba:
Five (5) suspects arrived at the site and attempted to force open entry onto the site. The suspects fled the scene
when response team responded to the team.
27 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Basch Street, Steeldale:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a computer set, a keyboard and a central
processing unit from the site.
26 May 2019, Theft, Residential Site, Burnside Road, Burnside:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises and removed a solar panel and electronic systems
from the site.
02 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Herbert Chitepo and 13th Avenue, City Centre:
One (1) employee was apprehended after removing and concealing tablets from the site.
17 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Cowdray Park:
An unknown number of suspects approached a security guard on site and stole the guarding equipment.
23 May 2019, Attempted Theft, Commercial Site, Coghlan Avenue, Killarney:
One (1) employee was apprehended after being caught stealing from the site.
27 May 2019, Theft from Motor Vehicle, Residential Site, Connaught Avenue, Ascot:
An unknown number of suspects removed a battery from a vehicle parked on site.
07 May 2019, Attempted Theft from Motor Vehicle, Goldway Road, Kelvin West:
Two (2) suspects were apprehended after removing a cellphone and meat from a vehicle parked on site. The vehicle
owner had left the windows open.
26 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Inyati:
An unknown number of suspects approached a security guard on site, threatened him and fled with a lamp from the
site.
26 May 2019, Attempted Theft, Commercial Site, Smith Avenue, Queens Park:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises via an undisclosed access point. The suspect/s
attempted to drain fuel from a truck but was interrupted and fled the scene.
30 May 2019, Attempted Theft, Commercial Site, Bon Acco Road, Thorngrove:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and attempted to remove business equipment from the
scene. A security guard raised alarm causing the suspects to flee the scene.
29 May 2019, Intruders, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road, Inyati:
Six (6) suspects were apprehended after being caught illegally operating on the site.
MIDLANDS
GWERU
20 May 2019, Break-in, Residential Sites, Athlone:
An unknown number of suspects gained access into multiple homes and removed an undisclosed amount of
electrical appliances and gadgets. The suspects did not gain access onto premises with security and alarms signs.
31 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Unnamed Road Gweru East:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site, removed the screen door and removed an undisclosed amount
of cigarettes from the site.
10 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Kopje Road, Gweru:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed a generator battery, oil and fuel from the
site.
15 May 2019, Intruder, Commercial Site, School Avenue/8th Street, Gweru East:
One (1) suspect was caught loitering on the premises, no losses reported.
KWEKWE
30 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Mbizo:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site, damaged the palisade bars but did not manage to
remove anything from the site.
28 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, Cypress Avenue, Kwekwe:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the premises via an undisclosed access point but did not
manage to remove anything.
01 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Kwekwe:
An unknown number of suspects entered the premises via an undisclosed access point and damaged the pipes
linking to the generator, possibly in an attempt to drain fuel.
18 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Kwekwe Central:
An unknown number of suspects entered the premises after damaging the electric fence. The suspect/s did not
manage to remove anything from the scene.
21 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Commercial Site, Kwekwe:
An unknown number of suspects entered the premises after damaging the electric fence. The suspect/s did not
manage to remove anything from the scene.
22 May 2019, Break-in, Commercial Site, Newtown:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed twenty-four (24) batteries from the site.
07 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Amaveni, Kwekwe:
An unknown number of suspects gained access onto the site and removed six hundred (600) litres of diesel from the
site.
MUTARE
31 May 2019, Armed Robbery, Residential Site, Acacia Road, Greenside:
An unknown number of suspects arrived at the site and held up the complainants. The suspects held the
complainant hostage and removed a pistol and cellphone from the premises. When a response team arrived, the
suspects held the team at gunpoint and forced into the client’s vehicle. The suspects drove the vehicle out for a few
kilometres before abandoning it.
21 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, 11th Avenue, Morningside:
An unknown number of suspects attempted to break into the building via the roof but did not manage to remove
anything.
18 May 2019, Attempted Break-in, Residential Site, Kariba Road, Nyakamete:
An unknown number of suspects damaged the durawall panels and gained access to the site. However, the suspects
did not manage to remove anything from the site as the alarm sounded and the suspect/s fled the scene.
26 May 2019, Theft, Commercial Site, Mutare:
One (1) employee was apprehended of stealing a battery from a generator.