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Prosper Ndlovu Senior Reporter
BURGLARY continues to give police in Bulawayo sleepless nights with a majority of cases recorded in Nkulumane and Cowdray Park suburbs, the officer commanding police, Senior Assistant Commissioner Stephen Mutamba, has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Matabeleland regional CID coordinator Assistant Commissioner Mavis Nkomo during the Cop-of-the-Month award at Ross Camp on Thursday, Snr Asst Comm Mutamba said although crime statistics had dropped by 14 percent this year, burglary remained a challenge.
“Burglary continues to trouble us. Last year by the end of November, we had recorded a total of 3,055 cases and this year we recorded 3,462,” he said.
Snr Asst Comm Mutamba added: “Most of these cases occur in Nkulumane and Cowdray Park suburbs.”
He said the bulk of burglary cases occurred at night where criminals break window panes and fish property such as clothes, handbags and cellphones out of the house using long wires and sticks.
“Crime in the city is on the downward trend. Since the beginning of this year up to the end of November 2013, we have received a total of 20,864 cases compared to 24,338 the same period last year, indicating a 14 percent decrease,” Snr Asst Comm Mutamba said.
“Rape cases, which usually give us problems, dropped from 309 last year to 290 this year.”
He attributed the decline in crime levels to coordinated policing efforts between the police and the community.
Snr Asst Comm Mutamba commended members of the neighbourhood watch committees across the province for being instrumental in creating a crime-free environment.
Two of the members also received awards in recognition of outstanding performances.
The police officers were awarded prizes for excellent service from the last quarter of 2012 up to the end of this year.
Constables Maxwell Mukondo and Tawanda Chete from Hillside Police Station won the top prize of $300 after they arrested two mbanje traffickers and recovered 60kg of the drug in the last quarter of 2013.
Two detectives from the homicide section, Mpumelelo Ndlovu and Kudakwashe Chibira won the best prize of $300 for the third quarter after arresting three armed robbers who had been terrorising shops in the western suburbs.
Five officers from Pumula Police Station shared the top prize for the second quarter after they teamed up and arrested a notorious criminal who broke into a house in Pumula South at night and raped a female occupant before robbing her of some cash.
Two officers, Sergeant Khumbulani Mpofu and Constable Hope Chinhengo from the dog section came top in the first quarter after tracking a mbanje dealer at a roadblock.
Prizes were also given for the best sporting disciplines in which Donnington Police Station ruled the roost followed by Entumbane and Luveve Police Stations.
The prizes were sponsored by Cottco Zimbabwe and Safeguard.
The police have also introduced awards for best cop in terms of bringing to book the wanted persons whose record is said to be on the increase.
With the festive season on, Snr Asst Comm Mutamba said the police would increase their visibility and mount roadblocks targeting defective vehicles, speeding, drunk drivers and overloading.
He urged motorists to observe road traffic regulations to avoid accidents.
Online Reporter