The area near the old Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) offices, the fly over between Gaborone West Industrial and the Old Industrial, has become a crime hotspot according to the police. Motorists stopping at traffic lights in the area are often targeted by criminals who smash car windows and grab valuables. Thereafter, the criminals run to hide in Zola, as they know where to run for safety and to enjoy their loot in peace. Pedestrians are also not safe either as they are mugged and robbed in areas adjacent to Old Naledi.
The criminals target people, especially women in the evening after getting off from combis and snatch handbags, money, cellular phones, laptops and other valuables. Of recent, they introduced a new system which keeps the police on their toes in which they attack and snatch people’s belongings immediately when they disembark from public transport. Confirming that petty crime remains a concern, Naledi Police station commander, Superintendent Nelson Selabe said serious crimes have drastically dropped over the years but petty crimes remain a concern. He said years ago they were battling with murder cases which usually started off as fights at the shebeens but they managed to target and eliminate them (shebeens) after establishing that they fuel violent and serious crime.
