Stolen goods recovered by Makhaza police officers.
Police officers stationed at Makhaza satellite police station acted swiftly when they received a tip-off from a resident in Gugulethu about a blue BMW with three occupants who were robbing a house.
When the police arrived at the scene, they managed to apprehend a man who was sitting in the driver's seat of the described vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, police discovered stolen goods including a plasma television, two microwaves, a heater and blankets.
The two other suspects managed to escape.
Harare police station communications officer, Warrant Officer Nosiphiwo Mntengwane, said the officers received a call about a suspicious vehicle in Makhaza in 41 section.
She said a 43-year-old man was arrested and appeared in court on May 30 on charges of being in possession of stolen goods. The case has been postponed.
He is linked to a string of cases relating to house robbery, said Warrant Officer Mntengwane.
“This is not the first time that they received a report about a BMW doing a house robbery. We learnt two houses were already broken into and they were now breaking into a third house.
“I can say that recently house robbery crimes are becoming one of the highest crimes being committed. We have heard of this BMW robbing in areas such as Kuyasa and Harare.”
Warrant Officer Mntengwane said this shows that the duty of fighting crimes does not solely lie in the hands of police officers but each and everyone has the responsibility to end crime.
She urged the community to be vigilant at all times and immediately report any suspicious activity.
She said police officers put their lives in danger just to ensure that residents are protected and the rule of the law is upheld.
Harare Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Funeka Soldaat, said as a community they need to work together with the police and other stakeholders.
She believes fighting crime is everyone’s busy and should not only be placed in the hands of police officers.
She applauded the officers for their sterling work but nevertheless urged them to pull up their socks in combating crime, which continues to escalate in Khayelitsha.
She said as a community they must pull together to reclaim their communities from criminals.