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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent—
POLICE in Bulawayo arrested 210 suspects in just two days this week in connection with a series of theft cases that rocked the city recently. Detectives recovered stolen property worth thousands of dollars between Monday and Tuesday. The 210 were arrested following a sting operation to curb theft from vehicles, unlawful entry and plain robberies among other crimes.
The officer commanding crime prevention in Bulawayo, Chief Superintendent Marshal Dube, headed the operation. Yesterday, acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Abednico Ncube said the arrested suspects are linked to the recovered property.
“We’ve arrested at least 210 suspects in connection with various offences during an operation to stop unlawful entry and plain robberies. “We’ve also recovered a wide range of stolen property which includes electrical gadgets, laptops, cellphones, television sets, refrigerators, vehicle wheels with reams and radios,” said Asst Insp Ncube.
He said police recovered some of the stolen property from informal traders. Ass Insp Ncube warned members of the public against buying goods from informal traders saying those who do so risked being arrested as accessories to theft.
“Some of the arrested culprits failed to account for the property that was found in their possession,” he said. He said two of the people who were arrested were on the police most wanted list for crimes ranging from pickpocketing, assault and theft.
“Members of the public who might have fallen prey to these criminals are being urged to visit the Zimbabwe Republic Police licence inspectorate at Drill Hall to identify their stole property,” he said.
Asst Insp Ncube said those seeking to recover their property should be in a position to produce serial numbers for goods or positively identify their property. Last month police said property worth nearly $2 million was stolen in the city between April and July this year. — @nqotshili
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu