News / National
Fake cops on the run
15 Jul 2017 at 15:05hrs | Views
POLICE are hunting for five thieves who raided a home in Bulawayo pretending to be cops.
The gang allegedly pretended to be investigating a crime and dug a pit at the complainant's home last Sunday at around 9PM. They allegedly robbed the homeowner of two cellphones.
The intentions of the five wanted men are still unknown.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said the five men are on the run.
He said they presented themselves as Criminal Investigations Detectives (CID) before digging up a concrete slab saying something was hidden under it.
The police did not provide details of the suburb where the crime occurred. Chief Supt Nyathi has since warned the public to guard against criminals masquerading as law enforcement agents.
"The complainant arrived from church and found five male adults chatting with his wife. The accused persons purported to be members of the police from the CID and wanted to retrieve some exhibits hidden underground by a certain accused person," he said.
"The accused persons started to dig a concrete slab in front of the house and took two cellphones, a Nokia c and a Nokia 5250 belonging to the complainant and his wife citing that they might interfere with investigations."
Chief Supt Nyathi the two cellphones valued at $60 were not recovered.
He urged the public to be alert as some criminals were impersonating police officers to commit crime.
"The ZRP continues to urge the public to be on the outlook for people who masquerade as police officers. It is their right to ask for police identification if they are not certain of the identity of people claiming to be police officers before permitting strangers access into their homes," Chief Supt Nyathi said adding that the public can also contact the nearest police stations if they come across suspicious activities. This week, police in Bulawayo arrested a 29-year-old male cop impersonator who had kidnapped two pupils from Mhali Primary School.
The gang allegedly pretended to be investigating a crime and dug a pit at the complainant's home last Sunday at around 9PM. They allegedly robbed the homeowner of two cellphones.
The intentions of the five wanted men are still unknown.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said the five men are on the run.
He said they presented themselves as Criminal Investigations Detectives (CID) before digging up a concrete slab saying something was hidden under it.
"The complainant arrived from church and found five male adults chatting with his wife. The accused persons purported to be members of the police from the CID and wanted to retrieve some exhibits hidden underground by a certain accused person," he said.
"The accused persons started to dig a concrete slab in front of the house and took two cellphones, a Nokia c and a Nokia 5250 belonging to the complainant and his wife citing that they might interfere with investigations."
Chief Supt Nyathi the two cellphones valued at $60 were not recovered.
He urged the public to be alert as some criminals were impersonating police officers to commit crime.
"The ZRP continues to urge the public to be on the outlook for people who masquerade as police officers. It is their right to ask for police identification if they are not certain of the identity of people claiming to be police officers before permitting strangers access into their homes," Chief Supt Nyathi said adding that the public can also contact the nearest police stations if they come across suspicious activities. This week, police in Bulawayo arrested a 29-year-old male cop impersonator who had kidnapped two pupils from Mhali Primary School.
Source - chronicle
