09 Jun 2013

Police have warned the public to avoid using dark streets at night to avoid becoming victims of criminals. 

A police weekly crime report states that from May 25 to June 2 the police recorded a total of 14 robbery incidents that occurred in streets throughout the country from nightfall to the early hours of the morning.  

It also states that perpetrators were armed with knives, metal rods and firearms in 11 of the 14 reported incidents.

The report states that some victims were robbed of valuables such as money, laptops, cellular phones and clothing. 

Gaborone and Mogoditshane policing areas recorded the highest number of such incidents. 

In one of the incidents reported in Mogoditshane, a 25-year-old man was attacked and robbed of his laptop and mobile phone by three unknown suspects who were armed with a knife. 

The victim was walking alone to his home when the incident occurred.  

Still in Mogoditshane, a 23-year-old woman was stabbed with a sharp instrument on May 31 by four unknown men who stole her mobile phone.

The incident happened when the victim and her friends were on their way home.  

The report further states that the police have observed that street robberies occurred mostly after sunset in areas where there are no street lights or are secluded. 

The public is thus advised to use open and illuminated streets for their own safety. 

Weekly cases recorded include seven murder cases.

Five suspects have been arrested while police have also recorded six incidents of theft of motor vehicle with one recovery.

Police also recorded 29 armed robbery cases involving cash amounting to over P69 000.

Four suspects have been arrested.  Police have also recorded 24 cases of rape and nine suspects have been arrested. 

Three hundred and twenty-four accidents with seven fatalities were also recorded while at least 73 motorists were booked for drunken driving and 1 429 booked for excessive speed.  

A summary of cases indicate that as from January this year to date, police have recorded 94 cases of murder compared to 95 the same period last year while police also registered 543 cases of armed robbery this year compared to 706 last year.  

Cases of rape dropped from 740 to 708 this year and the decline was also registered with theft of motor vehicle as 120 vehicles were stolen this year compared to 133 last year. 

The number of people who died in road accidents since January this year stood at 142 compared to 151 the same period last year.  ENDS