27 Sep 2017

Police have recorded 28 crime incidences in Borotsi ward for the months of July, August and September 2017 compared to 10 cases of various crimes for the same months in 2016.

This was revealed by Borotsi cluster coordinator Inspector Tapela Bonang at a Pitso organised for Borotsi ward.

He informed residents to be cautious in the area since crime rate was high and needed the community to help police to combat crime. 

Inspector Bonang said the perpetrators were mostly the youth and called on parents to be exemplary in fighting crime.

The crime he said included house breaking, burglary, robbery, defilement, theft common, office breaking, malicious damage, common nuisance, assault common, stealing stock and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Head of Criminal Investigation Department Assistant Superintendent Sitale Phuthego, added that investigations indicated that perpetrators of crime resided in Borotsi ward.

Supt Phuthego said in the second quarter of the year as compared to other clusters, Borotsi was leading in crime rate. Criminals he said targeted cash, cellphones, laptops and groceries and some gadgets stolen were traded at the Bobonong mall with illegal immigrants.

Supt Phuthego said the police were also concerned about the sale of contraband cigarettes and other poisonous substances sold by illegal immigrants at the village square. 

Former police officer Constantine Matho who officiated at the event said crime was growing while the community was watching  and called on residents to help the police arrest criminals since some know the perpetrators.

Mr Matho said the attitude of “it does not concern me” must stop saying it was the duty of every citizen to fight crime. He said the primary duty of the police was to ensure safety, protect  life and property hence the need to assist police.

He said last year the ward recorded very low crime rates and this year statistics had escalated something which calls for introspection. Mr Matho said  most people had been pushed into destitution because they lost their property such as livestock to criminals and pleaded with Dikgosi to ensure that they played their role to bring an end to  crime

For their part attendants’ blamed some parents for accepting proceeds of crime and harbouring their children when wanted by police. ENDS