MONTHLY OVERVIEW
- Crime reported to us is down in August 2023, and 17% down on the same period last year.
- The decrease can be attributed to the arrests made by the police with several armed robbery suspects arrested between July 2023 and August 2023. Additionally, the increased police presence during the election period may have served as a deterrent to criminals.
- Crime decreased significantly in Bulawayo and Midlands and almost doubled in Manicaland.
- In the past month warehouses, factories, business premises, and cottages were increasingly targeted. Generally, better planning involved with elements of inside knowledge of security and areas to target.
- In 50% of the reported incidents, the premises did not have an alarm. As for the cottages, two out of the three cottages did not have alarms.
- Manufacturers should install alarms and reinforce doors with screen gates and roller shutter gates.
- Preventions were recorded in 56% of the incidents where there was an alarm and in 63% of the incidents where a guard was on site.
- Preventions are higher at sites were multiple layers of security were used. For example, the combinations have proven useful:- deterrent perimeter, guard, alarm with response, simple CCTV, physical barriers to make entry and movement difficult.
- During the night, criminals also targeted vehicles parked outside residences. Remove valuables from vehicles and lock vehicles overnight. Vehicles should also be parked in areas that are well lit and covered by an alarm.
- In a number of incidents, an intrusion was not quickly detected as the keyholders were not easily reachable. To complement the rapid response service, clients are urged to ensure that their
keyholders details are up to date and that keyholders are readily available to attend to a site. Better still give us access to your cameras so that response can see inside, establish the cause for
the activation, and respond appropriately. This is particularly important for large premises, multi-story buildings, and commercial complexes.
MODUS OPERANDI/METHOD OF EXECUTION AND TARGETED ITEMS
HIGH RISK AREAS
TOTAL MONTHLY REPORTED INCIDENTS, AUGUST 2022 – AUGUST 2023
MONTHLY PROVINCIAL BREAKDOWN
*In cells where there is a “-” no incidents were reported to Safeguard and not that an incident did not occur.
TOWN/SUBURB BREAKDOWN
OUTLOOK
A drop in crime and a more stable period has been most welcome. There are however continued attacks on cash, and escalation in internal theft and loss and this just highlights the need for continual review of your security at home and work.
Thank you for using Safeguard.
The Safeguard Team