Ashley Masakadza

A local construction firm, Masimba Construction has raised concerns over the increase of smash and grab robberies in Harare which have seen its staff members and the general residents in the capital city losing valuables.

In a statement,  Masimba Construction’s Loss Control Manager Thembekile Ngungu said the robberies are being committed at night, and are targeting both motorists and pedestrians at various intersections and roundabouts .

“This memo serves to inform you that there has been a marked increase in night mugging and smash-and-grab crimes in and around Harare. The criminals are not only targeting vehicle drivers but pedestrians as well. Smash and grab crimes are generally perpetrated at traffic light-controlled intersections, all roundabouts where traffic slows down or comes to a complete stop and parking lots in shopping centres around Harare.

“The most common identified hotspots are as follows: All intersections along Harare Drive, Corner Churchill and Borrowdale Road,  Corner Churchill and Second Street Extension,  Corner King George and Lomagundi Road,  Corner Quendon and West Road, Corner Coventry and Rekai Tangwena Road, Corner Rotten Row and Mbare Road, Lyton Road Filter into Rotten Row, All intersections along Rotten Row from Josiah Tongogara up to Chitungwiza Road (including the Mupedzanhamo area), Corner Chiremba Road and Glenara and  Corner Limpopo Road and Gleneagles, among others, “ reads the statement.

The company urged drivers and pedestrians to be cautious when moving at night.

“ The list above is by no means exhaustive and thus we are all simply implored to be careful as we drive or walk around, especially at night. The golden rule on how to avoid getting into these very uncomfortable situations and stay safe is simply TO AVOID DRIVING AND BEING OUTDOORS AT NIGHT unless there is an emergency. Given this, we advise those of us who sometimes stay late at work even when it is not necessary to consider carrying whatever residual work there will be at home and finish it off from there,” the statement reads.

Efforts to get a comment from the ZRP spokesperson  Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi were fruitless as his phone was not being answered by the time of publishing.  But various media reports have recorded an  increase of smash and grab robbery cases in the capital.