This was the first incident of its kind in Botswana though it has become a common phenomenon in neighbouring South Africa. Already it is reported that over 60 ATMs had been targeted with huge sums of money stolen.
This should be a clear warning to the police and the banks that trouble is coming our way. Our experiences have been that organised crime in South Africa has always found its way into Botswana. It is highly possible that thugs from South Africa were involved in the Phakalane incident. Obviously, Batswana are always involved as well. Once again we want to congratulate the police on acting swiftly to thwart the robbery. This is a clear demonstration that the police have their ears to the ground. We believe that members of the public are also doing a marvellous job helping the police with information leading to the arrest of those intent on committing crimes. If the robbery had succeeded, a lot of money would have been stolen. When there is an exchange of fire between the police and thieves, there is always a high possibility of lives being lost or injuries sustained. It is pleasing, therefore, to know that the police and all those who were 'fighting' with the would-be robbers were not injured or killed. Even where crimes were committed and they were not able to arrive on the scene in time, the police have always worked hard to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. This is something that we should all be proud of as a nation. At least we can have the confidence that our properties are protected. Despite the meagre resources at their disposal, the police and other members of the security forces are doing everything in their power to protect this country. Of course, there are other areas where the police need to improve. There is an argument that the police seem to focus their resources on the so-called 'big' crimes and in the process neglect other crimes such as burglary and theft, which are currently a major cause for concern.
