Villagers Apprehend Four Solar Battery Thieves
Villagers apprehended four suspected armed robbers who pounced on Obva Clinic in Mashonaland West Province at midnight on 6 April 2023.
The four suspects were subsequently arrested by the police after their plan failed.
The suspects were identified as Tinashe Mangwiro(32) from Unit L, Chitungwiza, Forgive Mupanganyemba(38) from Kuwadzana 4, Samuel Makazhu(48) from Kuwadzana 7 and Raphael Magunda(21) from Musona Village under Chief Magonde in Kenzamba.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Mashonaland Province Inspector Margaret Chitove confirmed the arrest of the suspects.
She said the suspects were armed when they pounced at Obva Clinic on 6 April at around midnight.
The suspects arrived at the clinic and broke the main gate and proceeded to the mothers’ shelter and threatened to kill the security guard who was posted there.
Two members of the gang reportedly held the security guard hostage in another room.
The other two suspects broke the solar batteries cabinet and disconnected the entire clinic’s wiring system.
Sister Denya, a nurse at the clinic called out for help after she noticed the sudden power cut alerting villagers who came to the rescue.
The villagers intercepted the gang which was carrying one solar battery approximately 300 metres from the crime scene.
Sensing danger, the suspects dumped the battery and jumped into their getaway car, a Toyota Wish.
But the villagers gave chase and eventually caught up with them along the road leading to Kenzamba where their gateaway car had had a breakdown.
Three of the suspects fled from the car but they were later apprehended by the villagers while they sought transport to flee the area.
The matter was reported to the police and the solar battery worth US$1 000 was recovered.
Speaking to ZBC News, Inspector Chitove urged members of the public to work together with the police and help catch criminals. She said:
We would like to applaud members of the public who worked earnestly and showed resilience and unity of purpose in the apprehension of suspects.
We also urge members of the public to join hands with the police to arrest criminals.
According to a Safeguard Crime Report for April 2022, crime increased by 12%, with burglaries increasing by 33%.
The report said a majority of crime incidents occurred between 00:00 and 04:00.
It also revealed that a number of successful break-ins were prevented by the presence of an alert guardian and the sounding of an alarm.
Tips to Prevent Burglary
- Make your home look occupied, and make it difficult to break in.
- Lock all outside doors and windows before you leave the house or go to bed.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked.
- Don’t allow daily deliveries of mail, newspapers or flyers to build up while you are away.
- Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to take them regularly.
- Arrange for your lawn to be mowed if you are going away for an extended time.
- Check your locks on doors and windows and replace them with secure devices as necessary.
- Pushbutton locks on doorknobs are easy for burglars to open. Install deadbolt locks on all your outside doors.
- Sliding glass doors are vulnerable. Special locks are available for better security.
- Other windows may need better locks. Check with a locksmith or hardware store for alternatives.
- Don’t share your vacation plans on social media.
More:Â Pindula News
