By Ndumiso Tshuma
Residents of Lochview in Bulawayo have expressed concern about a surge in thefts plaguing their suburb.
Reports indicate a rise in theft incidents, with burglaries and stolen property becoming commonplace. Valuables like electronics, furniture, solar batteries, cell phones, laptops, and personal belongings have been stolen.
Speaking to CITE in separate interviews, the residents called for increased police patrols, the implementation of police-approved neighbourhood watch programs, and greater community engagement with the police to tackle the issue and ensure safety.
One resident, Sheila Nyathi, shared her distress, stating that she no longer feels safe at home due to the constant thefts. She has experienced three attempted robberies in the past year, with the latest one resulting in the theft of her laptop and cell phone.
“It’s heartbreaking to see our once peaceful community targeted by thieves,” Nyathi said. “We no longer feel safe in our own homes. I’ve had three attempted robberies in the past year alone, and last week they stole my laptop and cellphone. When we call the police, it takes them forever to arrive. As Lochview residents, we need to discuss effective measures with the police to reduce crime in our neighborhood. It’s not the police who are affected; it’s us, the residents, who lose our belongings.”
Another resident, Elton Sibanda, expressed concerns about the existing WhatsApp groups used by community members to alert each other about thefts and crimes. While helpful, he believes it’s not enough.
“The frequency of thefts in Lochview is worrying,” Sibanda said. “We’ve come together to address this and protect our neighbourhood. We even have WhatsApp groups to alert each other about thefts, but that’s not enough. We need a new neighbourhood watch program run by the police, not volunteers who might be thieves themselves. We also need the police to be more vigilant in addressing ongoing crime.”
Siphilisiwe Moyo, another resident, shared her recent encounter with robbers targeting solar batteries at her house.
“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” Moyo said. “Two masked people were trying to steal my solar batteries in the middle of the night! Thankfully, I called my neighbour, who came with others and chased them away. These were my second set of solar batteries; the first ones were stolen last year. I reported it to the police, but they haven’t been found.”
