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Crime Reporter
POLICE have expressed concern over cases in which criminals are using explosives to blow open safes after targeting companies, service stations and supermarkets countrywide. This comes after several such cases have been reported countrywide with thousands of dollars and other valuables kept in safes being stolen.
National police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi yesterday said the cases needed to be halted.

“We are concerned with cases involving the use and possession of explosives used to blow open safes in unlawful entry cases at business premises, supermarkets and companies,” he said.

“We have also had schools experiencing these cases, service stations and even post offices.”
Chief Supt Nyathi appealed to business owners and other individuals to desist from keeping large amounts of money on their premises and to bank cash regularly.

He said in one of the cases, in February, criminals got away with US$280 cash and airtime worth over US$3 000 after blowing open a safe at Penhalonga Post Office.

In May, criminals got away with US$4 612 cash after raiding Chinyaradza School in Zaka.
Chief Supt Nyathi said other cases were recorded in Bulawayo and other suburbs in Harare where safes were blown open.
Last week, police were investigating the case in which armed robbers raided Spar Supermarket at Marimba Shopping Centre in Harare.
They managed to get away with over US$30 000 after blowing a safe off the wall.

The incident occurred at around 3am and no arrests have been made so far.
Police have been discouraging people, including business owners, from keeping large sums of money in their homes and premises as they could fall prey to criminals.

Last week, a Zimbabwean woman Elitha Sibanda who was recently arrested with explosives at Beitbridge Border Post on the South African side, appeared briefly at the Musina Magistrates’  Court on charges of unauthorised importation, supply or possession of explosives or incendiary devices.