Possession of offensive weapons on the rise
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 29, 2022 06:32
Crime in general remains appallingly high especially in the Greater Gaborone as people continue to live in constant fear of criminals in the comfort of their homes and while driving their cars, issues that are currently keeping the police on their toes.
Informed by the ongoing stop, question and search strategy, the police revealed to be highly concerned by the increase in possession of offensive weapons as they always intercept cars carrying offensive weapons.
Due to these incidents, the city continues to experience an upsurge in criminal activities that have left residents in constant fear of their lives.
Additionally, the police revealed that criminals increasingly target isolated businesses and therefore call on members of the business community to be vigilant at all times as criminals are increasingly targeting isolated businesses. Moreover, people’s goods are stolen everyday, whether day or night and not even the comfort of their homes can keep them safe as the perpetrators continue to find a way of breaking into their houses even in their presence and use violence on their victims, threatening them with weapons.
Social media is always awash with reports of people sharing their sad encounters with these dangerous criminals, who prey on both male and females on the streets, homes and businesses. It is not uncommon to come across pictures of people who got badly hurt while trying to protect their property from these evil individuals who do not seem to have an ounce of conscience in them. According to information provided by the No. 3 District Officer Commanding, Senior Superintendent Theriso Thatayotlhe revealed this when reached for an interview by this publication.
Thatayotlhe said through the ongoing stop, question and search they established that possession of offensive weapons amongst motorists is spiraling out of control. He stated that the most common weapons are axes, knives, metal rods, grinding machine, equipments resembling fire arms among others.
He said possession of these weapons in vehicles especially at night worries the police because they are the most mentioned items believed to be used by most perpetrators of armed robbery incidents. Thatayotlhe stated that possession of such weapons remains a concern because those who carry them are potential offenders.
“These people are occasionally found in possession of large sums of money, which they fail to account for hence suspecting that they are the same people terrorising people at night attacking and robbing them in the comfort of their homes, businesses and while driving,” Thatayotlhe said.
Moreover, Thatayotlhe revealed to have established a pattern in which criminals target isolated businesses with most of the incidents occurring at night when businesses are about to close with offensive weapons used. He stated that usually these criminals pounce on unsuspecting business community members when they are about to close, bearing arms or sharp objects and at times threatening them with objects that look like firearms. “These criminals usually target stand alone businesses like butcheries, gas shops, restaurants, lodges, and guest houses to mention but a few and make off with large sums of cash, electronic gadgets and other valuables ,” Thatayotlhe said. He further revealed that usually, it takes time for them to intercept the perpetrators because they would have stolen the mobile phones at the scene making reporting of the incident difficult for the victims.
The police chief, as a result, implored the business owners to up their security by hiring guards who will be able to monitor their surroundings while they are inside counting cash before the closure of the business. Thatayotlhe also revealed that such reports are a daily occurrence with three to four cases reported in a week. “Since we are currently providing security amongst hot spots in and around the city, criminals have found a new target of isolated businesses.
It is difficult to provide security to all businesses at the same time hence we are pleading with the business community to meet us half way to curb this scourge. Despite our efforts, criminals continue to hatch new plans to make their hit on the next target,” he said. He said these criminals spend the entire day loitering around the area, studying people’s movements and looking for the target later at night to steal from. He stated that whilst in their sleep, inhabitants are awakened by suspicious movements in their houses not knowing how the thieves got their way into the house.