POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested four suspects in
connection with theft of household property worth more than $500 000 in Cowdray
Park suburb during the lockdown period.
Police arrested Amon Moyo (21), Nqobizitha Sithole (25),
Nkanyiso Baloyi (40) and Lloyd Majaji (45), all from Cowdray Park, in
connection with a series of house break-in incidents in the same suburb.
The cops said the thefts occurred between March 30 when
Government imposed a national lockdown to Tuesday.
The recovered stolen property includes beds, gas cylinders,
gas stoves, solar batteries, solar panels, television sets and blankets among
other things.
The criminals believed to be part of a syndicate, were
burying some of their stolen property to conceal their crimes.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said
the culprits were arrested as a result of community policing.
“We have arrested four people in connection with a series
of house breakings in Cowdray Park suburb. The suspect were targeting houses
that were not occupied. Some of the houses they were targeting belong to
occupants who left their homes for their rural homes when lockdown was
announced on March 30.
They were even stealing in homes whose occupants are
around. The property that was stolen includes gas cylinders, stoves, blankets,
beds. The property is valued at approximately more than $500 000,” said Insp
Ncube.
“We want to commend the good community policing initiatives
that led to the arrest of the four suspects. Members of the public provided
police with information that led to the arrest one of the suspects who then
informed us about his accomplices leading to their arrest as well.”
He said they recovered property worth more than $100 000
and the suspects were assisting police in identifying more items.
Insp Ncube said Majaji, who was keeping the stolen
property, was arrested as he tried to hide some of the items when police
pounced on his home.
“Apparently we are looking at clearing up to about 10 to 15
cases of unlawful entry and theft in Cowdray Park. Most of the property was
unbelievably recovered hidden underground. Those suspects have the guts to dig
pits in the suburb just to hide their loot. Some of the pits were in
residential homes while others in the bush. But through police interviews the
arrested suspects, led the investigating officers to where they had hidden some
of these properties. We believe more recoveries are still to be made,” he said.
Insp Ncube said while most residents have been cooperating
with cops to arrest the suspected thieves, it is worrying that some of them are
actually buying some of the stolen properties.
He said residents should take advantage of the police’s
house under supervision scheme.
Under this scheme, travelling residents report to the
Officer-in-Charge of any police station so that their house is put under
surveillance.
Insp Ncube said those who have lost their properties should
visit Cowdray Park Police Base to identify stolen properties. Chronicle
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