Pick pocketing: A concern in the city centre

Pini Bothoko | Monday October 25, 2021 06:00

Borakanelo police station commander, superintendent Amos Solomon told Mmegi in an interview that police officers in his policing area are forced to be a step ahead of devious criminals who are always in a mood to dispossess unsuspecting people of their valuables.

Solomon expressed concern over the increase in pick pocketing especially on women and theft from cars in shopping malls. He said they are dealing with all sorts of crimes due to a lot of movement in the policing area. “A lot of stolen goods are traded there and it appears that women are the most targeted pick pocketing victims as compared to their male counterparts because they are the ones who report with high numbers. Pick pocketing thieves usually target malls where people come in large numbers at crowded clothing stores,” Solomon said.

The police boss said he suspects that crime in the city centre is exacerbated by the high numbers of unemployed youth who frequent malls pretending to be walking past while targeting at people’s pockets and handbags.

He stated that the young boys are usually from the surrounding villages who are unemployed and depending on theft for survival. Solomon further revealed that the said thieves are in habit of following people until they get inside the shops pretending to be buying as well whilst their motive would be to search them. “They also have the habit of snatching and running away with women’s bags taking advantage of the crowded malls.

This is very worrying to us because the cases are many and are reported daily. In the past there has been a number of murder incidents in which people were killed by a mob at the bus rank on allegations of pick pocketing and other theft related incidents,” he said. Asked how the situation is in the Central Business District (CBD), Solomon said crime incidents in CBD are very minimal something that he applauds. He stated that crime in the CBD should be at zero because if not, investors will fear to invest in the area as they are interested in investing in a crime free environment. Solomon further stated that smash and grab incidents are mostly prevalent in parking lots at busy malls and by the traffic lights.

He said the criminals usually target electronic gadgets like laptops, mobile phone and handbags. “Even though these crime incidents have slightly dropped, they remain a concern at car parking lots.

These criminals break car windows and steal people’s valuables. I am pleading with members of the public and motorists to be extra vigilant and refrain from keeping their valuables visible inside their car,” he said. However, Solomon vowed that the police will always do their best to protect members of the community and their properties but called on them to help the police curb the scourge.