News / Local
Armed robbery cases on the rise - ZRP
03 Jul 2014 at 06:16hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has expressed concern over the increase in a number of armed robbery cases countrywide as they went up by 37% since the beginning of the year.
In a statement, the ZRP said Bulawayo and Harare metropolitan provinces recorded the highest number of cases with criminals targeting motorists and pedestrians.
"Police recorded 316 cases of armed robbery between January and May 2014, as compared to 230 cases received during the same period in 2013. These statistics indicate that robbery cases increased by 37%.
"Criminals are targeting motorists and pedestrians walking along footpaths in the urban centres," read the statement.
According to the police, during the past week, two people were robbed of their cell phones and cash while walking along the footpath between Kambuzuma Section 2 and Warren Park.
On June 25 2014 around 0130hrs, a security guard was also manhandled by five unknown accused persons in one of the companies in Harare after they had disarmed him of his revolver. The accused persons went on to steal $3 000 cash that was inside a safe, cellphones and other valuables belonging to four other employees who were within the premises.
In a similar incident, on June 26 2014 around 0300hrs, five unknown persons pounced at Hawton Elution Plant in Kadoma where they made away with 25l of Sulphuric Acid, 50kg of gold carbon and cell phones all valued at $11 385.
"The police are appealing to all businesspersons to constantly bank their monies and avoid keeping the monies inside safes within company premises and residential homes," said the police.
In a statement, the ZRP said Bulawayo and Harare metropolitan provinces recorded the highest number of cases with criminals targeting motorists and pedestrians.
"Police recorded 316 cases of armed robbery between January and May 2014, as compared to 230 cases received during the same period in 2013. These statistics indicate that robbery cases increased by 37%.
"Criminals are targeting motorists and pedestrians walking along footpaths in the urban centres," read the statement.
On June 25 2014 around 0130hrs, a security guard was also manhandled by five unknown accused persons in one of the companies in Harare after they had disarmed him of his revolver. The accused persons went on to steal $3 000 cash that was inside a safe, cellphones and other valuables belonging to four other employees who were within the premises.
In a similar incident, on June 26 2014 around 0300hrs, five unknown persons pounced at Hawton Elution Plant in Kadoma where they made away with 25l of Sulphuric Acid, 50kg of gold carbon and cell phones all valued at $11 385.
"The police are appealing to all businesspersons to constantly bank their monies and avoid keeping the monies inside safes within company premises and residential homes," said the police.
Source - The Zim Mail
