News / Local
14 youths arrested for vandalising property in the city after Trade Fair
29 Apr 2012 at 23:42hrs | Views
Bulawayo Police arrested 14 youths at the weekend for allegedly vandalising property in the city centre and stealing cellphones as they were coming from the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).
The youths, most of whom appeared to be of school-going age, allegedly went on a drinking binge at the ZITF and caused havoc, with some sleeping on pavements and others throwing bottles at people.
Some cars parked at the ZITF had their windscreens smashed.
The youths then proceeded into the city centre where they went around throwing alcohol bottles all over and breaking shop windows.
They also went to the Bulawayo Centre where they broke windows forcing police officers to beat and arrest everyone who was roaming around the shopping mall.
Police also beat up everyone who was seen carrying a bottle of beer around the Bulawayo Centre.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident yesterday and said the youths would be charged with criminal nuisance.
"We arrested 14 youths over the weekend who were being a nuisance in the city centre.
"These youths, all boys, were going around breaking shop windows and physically assaulting people who were passing Bulawayo Centre," said Insp Moyo.
He said most of the youths were under the age of 18.
"Most of the youths were under the age of 18 but were heavily drunk. Four of them stole cell phones.
"We had to call the parents of the under-aged boys and caution them about the dangers of their children's behaviour," said Insp Moyo.
He said the youths that were over the age of 18 were charged with criminal nuisance.
Insp Moyo urged the youths to behave and to desist from dangerous habits like drinking and vandalising property.
He said police were ready to pounce on anyone found on the wrong side of the law.
The youths, most of whom appeared to be of school-going age, allegedly went on a drinking binge at the ZITF and caused havoc, with some sleeping on pavements and others throwing bottles at people.
Some cars parked at the ZITF had their windscreens smashed.
The youths then proceeded into the city centre where they went around throwing alcohol bottles all over and breaking shop windows.
They also went to the Bulawayo Centre where they broke windows forcing police officers to beat and arrest everyone who was roaming around the shopping mall.
Police also beat up everyone who was seen carrying a bottle of beer around the Bulawayo Centre.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident yesterday and said the youths would be charged with criminal nuisance.
"These youths, all boys, were going around breaking shop windows and physically assaulting people who were passing Bulawayo Centre," said Insp Moyo.
He said most of the youths were under the age of 18.
"Most of the youths were under the age of 18 but were heavily drunk. Four of them stole cell phones.
"We had to call the parents of the under-aged boys and caution them about the dangers of their children's behaviour," said Insp Moyo.
He said the youths that were over the age of 18 were charged with criminal nuisance.
Insp Moyo urged the youths to behave and to desist from dangerous habits like drinking and vandalising property.
He said police were ready to pounce on anyone found on the wrong side of the law.
Source - TC
