Neighbourhood watch programmes can help fight crime
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday May 23, 2023 06:00
Molepolole Police Station commander, Superintendent Benedict Matlho said residents of the village, who are troubled by theft incidents, have moved to form neighbourhood watch groups in their respective wards to assist the police fight crime.
He told The Monitor that on Saturday, residents of Masugankwe ward, Molepolole launched Morula neighbourhood watch to address the rise in housebreaking, burglary, and theft incidents in the area.
“Of late, the rise in housebreaking, burglary and theft incidents, prompted villagers to form neighbourhood programmes which have since been rolled out amongst all wards in the village. We have been experiencing a lot of break-ins and copper cable theft in recent months and villagers have heard our plea to join hands and help police fight crime,” he said.
Matlho said they believe the groups will have more impact, especially since these criminals live in the same communities as them and they know them better compared to the police.
He further revealed that the groups have since started night patrols in an attempt to deter crime within the village. Commenting on electric copper cable theft, Matlho said it looks like the criminals target unoccupied and vacant houses and cut electric cables from the electric pole to the house. He said in some instances they even cut cables when the homeowners are asleep.