The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has expressed concern
over the increase in cases in which its officers continue to be attacked in
some areas in and around the CBD by suspected MDC-Alliance youths.
The rowdy youths have declared some of the spots in the
city a no-go area for police officers, especially roads near their party
headquarters, Harvest House.
On Saturday, a policewoman sustained serious injuries after
being attacked with stones by some of these youths in the city. She is
currently receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Investigations are still in progress. National police
spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi warned all criminal elements
that the long arm of the law will be applied to them without fear or favour.
“The ZRP is disturbed by the continuous acts of assaults on
police officers at the area between Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Angwa Street.
“No one has the right to attack police officers
irrespective of one’s religion, colour, creed or status. Police will ensure law
and order is maintained,” he said.
The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services also confirmed the attack on its Twitter.
“Today (Saturday), a female police officer was attacked
around Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Angwa Street. Stones were used as missiles. She
is in hospital receiving treatment. We wish her full recovery. The public is
urged to respect police officers whose role is to maintain law and order.
“The nation needs a political culture that eschews
violence. Police are currently dealing with threats of violence issued against
QV Pharmacy staff by the people who have declared parts of the Harare CBD no-go
areas. Attacking police and threatening others is unacceptable.”
Last week, 11 suspected MDC-Alliance marshals appeared in
court for allegedly assaulting a police officer at a food court in Harare’s
central business district claiming it was a no-go area for law enforcement
agencies.
Meanwhile, police have warned members of the public to be
wary of a syndicate of criminals that is swindling people of their hard-earned
cash through card cloning and online banking.
This comes after several people lost their money after
either receiving a call or an SMS from people purporting to be employees from
their banks.
Most of the victims received a call from phone line number
+263864479973. National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul
Nyathi confirmed the increase in such cases.
“There is an increase in the number of fraud cases through
card cloning and online banking,” he said.
“Criminals are targeting pensioners or people with large
sums of money in their accounts.”
Asst Comm Nyathi said, recently, a Victoria Falls man lost
$19 685,05 after he received a call from +263864479973 with the caller claiming
to be a bank employee.
“The caller was armed with all information concerning the
man and he requested his PIN number and asked him to confirm through SMSs on
his cellphone,” he said. “Within a short space of time, the money had been
withdrawn from his account.
“We encourage the public not to respond to SMS from unknown
bank officials or divulge their passwords over the phone.”
In another case, a man recently received a call from the
same number with the unknown caller purporting to be an official from a local
bank.
“The caller informed the unsuspecting complainant that he
was fixing his account so that he could receive instant messages after every
transaction from the bank,” said Asst Comm Nyathi.
“He went on to request the complainant to supply their PIN
number and the complainant complied. A few minutes thereafter, the complainant
received a message advising him that some money had been withdrawn from his
account.
“On checking with the bank, he discovered that the money
had been stolen. This is a growing phenomenon. We urge the public not to be
lured to change their PIN numbers on the phone, but should personally do so at
their banks.”
Last year, police warned members of the public to be wary
of such criminals and over 154 cases have been reported countrywide.
Card cloning involves the production of counterfeit bank
debit cards by criminals after fraudulently acquiring bank debit/credit card
information contained in the magnetic strip of the bank debit card.
The criminals are acquiring bank debit card information
through gadgets known as skimmers. The skimmers are able to extract debit card
information and the said devices are similar to Point of Sale (POS) machines.
Some criminals also steal POS machines from shops and
service stations for the purpose of uploading data which they use to clone
debit cards. Herald
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