Nyanga police say they are worried about a growing trend where young women and girls are used by criminals to rob people and burgle people’s homes.
Following the arrest of three suspects around 2am on Friday November 17, in Browns Farm in connection with a spate of robberies on the corner of Borcherds Quarry and Klipfontein roads, Nyanga police station commander, Brigadier Vuyisile Ncata, warned that teenage girls were being used as a decoy to rob people.
Brigadier Ncata said the detectives had been busy with a tracing operation, on Friday morning, when they were tipped off about a suspect in possession of an illegal firearm.
He commended the community for working with police.
Brigadier Ncata said police and the community of Lusaka had a met after the attack on an ambulance on the corner of Borcherds Quarry and Klipfontein Road as it was transporting an 8-year-old patient from an accident scene in Delft to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (“Deadly hot spot”, Vukani, November 16).
He said with the help of councillor Khaya Yozi they had held a successful meeting and community members started giving out information about criminals.
“The information led us to the arrest of teenagers with cellphones, bank cards four LCD flat screens, eight speakers, two long speakers, a computer, keyboard and speakers, subwoofers, a Hallmark watch and several other items,” he said.
Brigadier Ncata added that on the smash-and-grab incidents they discovered that there were teenage girls involved. “We want to warn the community about (these) teenage girls. “They are becoming a problem,” he said.
Brigadier Ncata said police would intensify their operations in Lusaka and Browns Farm and appealed to community members to have trust in the police. “Parents need to to claim their space as parents. We were shocked to hear a parent saying her daughter was with her boyfriend while we know they were busy breaking the law. We also have a problem near Crossroads clinic where people are being robbed daily. We appeal to residents to help fight crime,” he said.
Brigadier Ncata applauded police for their continuous efforts and dedication to cleaning the streets of Nyanga.
Mr Yozi also applauded the police for their work and said he was also shocked to see the accused are youngsters. “The residents are responding positively. The initial problem we had was a big lack of trust between police and the community,” he said.
Mr Yozi hailed Brigadier Ncata for assuring the community that they were protected when they give information to the police. “Now we are seeing results. These are just baby steps. We hope better things will soon come,” he said.
* Nyanga police have appealed to the community to come forward with information about another of the suspects, believed to be the mastermind behind the robberies on Klipfontein Road and Borcherds Quarry intersection. It is believed that some of the suspects disguise themselves in neighbourhood watch bibs while robbing the people.
Nyanga police station can be contacted on 021 380 3300 or email NYANGA-SAPS@saps.org.za
