Violent crime increases, as cash becomes more valuable

There has been a significant increase in crime, particularly violent crime, in recent months, according to Safeguard Security, one of the country's leading security organisations.

Many of the violent crimes have occurred in some of the country's smaller towns. A guard was shot and killed in Kadoma, while another was stabbed in Beitbridge. A service station in Lupane was also robbed. In each case, cash was the target.

In Harare too there has been violent crime, with rocks being thrown at cars at the intersection of High Glen and Gleneagles roads in Budiriro. Incidences of housebreaking and theft have also increased significantly.

Smash and grab robberies, where a car window is smashed and items grabbed from inside, have become frequent.

A Safeguard spokesperson pointed out that the shortage of cash has made cash more valuable than ever before.

He urged motorists to be aware of their surroundings and not to drive too close to the car in front of them.

He urged them too not to leave valuables in the car, particularly where they can be seen but not even in the boot, if they were going to leave the car parked.

"Sometimes a person parks at a shopping centre, gets out of the car, removes a parcel and places it in the boot, unaware that there may be criminals watching who now know that there is probably something valuable in the boot," he said.

He said motorists locking their car with a remote control key should check that the doors are actually locked. Sometimes remote keys failed to work. There was also reason to believe that there were thieves with devices that jammed the signal from a remote, meaning that the motorist thought the car was locked when in fact it was not, making it easy for thieves to enter the car and steal whatever they found there.

"It is important to be security conscious and aware of your surroundings wherever you are," he said.