Mmopane Burglary Incidents Trouble Police
Pini Bothoko | Monday August 27, 2018 14:07
Many people who migrate from their home villages for greener pastures or in search of opportunities in Gaborone make their first stop in neighbouring villages like Mmopane, where they look for cheaper or affordable accommodation. However, this comes along with vices like the spike in criminal activities as the population rises in the village.
Urbanisation of the village has also come with changes in lifestyle and mindsets of the residents. Neighbours have become ‘unneighbourly’, something that gives criminals the advantage. Officiating at the handing over of a house to a needy family on Friday, Police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe revealed that burglary incidents remain a concern in Mmopane.
He said unknown culprits continue to attack residents in their sleep and walk away with valuable goods like television sets, mobile phones, laptops and other appliances. The criminals later sell the loot at cheaper prices.
Makgophe said as a result of the alarming crime incidents, the police have decided to sensitise the residents and seek more community involvement in fighting crime.He revealed that last year the village had 20 cases of burglary and this year already 22 cases have been registered. “Criminals plan their move. They don’t happen at random. They target a house and they monitor that house to observe the patterns of the occupants and attack during the day when they are away at work hence the need for a stronger community policing,” he said. Being the second most common type of crime, last year 18 cases of house breaking were reported in Mmopane and year-to-date statistics reveal that 28 cases have been registered.
The police commissioner said last year there were two cases of store breaking. There has been a rise in the crime as already four cases have since been registered. He called for community partnership with the police to curb escalating crime incidents in the area.
Makgophe went on to reveal that robbery cases also remain a concern in the area. He stated that last year the village recorded four cases, but this year already the numbers have risen to 11.
He pointed out that home robbery fuels fear in communities, as it puts people at risk of personal injury and emotional trauma in their homes, where they should feel safest.
“Rape is also a concern in the area even though this year they have decreased to three cases as compared to nine that were registered in 2017. Abuse of women and girls remains a concern as women live in deep fear of rapists. It is so painful that women no longer live their lives freely due to rapists,” Makgophe said.