Police in Tutume Village in the Central District are fighting losing battles against overwhelming rates of house breakings and rape cases, which are rampant in the village.
The Station Commander of Tutume Police Station, Vusimuzi Jorowe, told the Sunday Standard that despite their efforts as the police to try and contain the situation, the crime rate in the area had taken a disturbing direction over the past few years.
“As I am speaking to you right now, we receive two rape cases at least twice every week and house breakings are also on the increase,” he said.
The Station Commander went on to say that since January this year there has also been an increase in defilement cases, adding that the problem is due to the parents neglecting their children.
Jorowe further stated that the criminals have also developed a trend of house invasions, in which they even attack people in their houses; rob them of their valuables and escape.
“The other worrisome factor is that most of the houses in Tutume are abandoned and the owners are in Francistown, which makes them vulnerable to breakings and theft,” he added.
He said that most of the people who commit such offences are Batswana and sometimes in liaison with the foreigners.
In efforts to mitigate the disturbing criminal activities, Jorowe revealed that they, as the Police, have made clusters and regularly communicate with the villagers to try and work cooperatively with them but the situation continues to worsen. He said that most of these thieves target valuables such as jewellery, cell phones and portable electric accessories.
“With regard to house breakings, we want to urge the public to always keep their doors locked, put security gates and keep their valuables in much safer areas to make it difficult for criminals,” he added.
