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Hlabile Dube Chronicle Reporter
POLICE have expressed concern over the increase in robbery cases in major cities and districts and called on members of the public to be alert to avoid falling prey to such criminals.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned about cases of robberies occurring in central business districts of Harare and Bulawayo, national police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said yesterday.

“Commuters are falling victim after boarding unregistered pirate taxis and in some instances commuter omnibuses with fake registration number plates purporting to ply certain routes.”

Chief Supt Nyathi said some of the robbers threaten their victims with knives to subdue them.
He said some people have been attacked on disembarking from these vehicles.

“We would want to urge the general public to be wary of unregistered vehicles and board well known and reputable public vehicles,” he said.

Chief Supt Nyathi said some suspected robbers moved in groups of between three and six people pretending to be passengers in the particular cars.

He said nine such cases had been reported in Harare alone.
“In the majority of the robbery cases, the victims were threatened with knives by the robbers,” said Chief Supt Nyathi.

He encouraged members of the public to request drivers or crews of the vehicle they board to pass through police stations to verify their authenticity to avoid being robbed.

The alleged criminals target cash, laptops, cell phones and jewellery.
Police have also warned commuter omnibus drivers against leasing out their vehicles to criminals saying unsuspecting passengers sometimes board such kombis and end up being robbed.