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Crime Reporter
Police have urged the public to be wary of criminals who are raiding their homes during the night in and around Harare targeting cash and other valuables.

This comes after police last week appealed for information that might assist in arresting criminals targeting certain residential areas in Harare and other parts of the country committing unlawful entry and theft cases.

In a statement, police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the criminals were carrying out the activities at night when occupants were sleeping targeting valuables such as cellphones, groceries, television sets and other items. The appeal follows recent cases in Harare’s Hillside, Cranborne and Braeside areas with most suspects believed to be coming from Epworth.

“We would like to urge the public to buy or acquire clothes, television sets or other valuables from reputable shops. We would also want to warn anyone harbouring criminals in their houses to desist from doing so as police had stepped up surveillance on the movement of criminals in the country,” Chief Supt Nyathi said.

Anyone with information on criminal activities and their movements should contact any nearest police station or contact Harare Operations on (04) 748836 or National Complaints Desk on (04) 703631.

In January last year, armed robbers and housebreakers terrorised Harare residents and police were concerned with the upsurge with such cases.

Valuables like electrical gadgets, cars and mobile phones were the main targets by the criminals.

Five armed robbers raided a house in Borrowdale recently and got away with electrical gadgets, property and a Toyota Corolla.

Another man lost a laptop and $500 to five armed robbers in Eastlea under similar circumstances.

More than 300 suspects were arrested in and around Harare last year for armed robbery and murder as such cases continue to increase.

According to police, there was an increase in murder and armed robbery cases by 13 percent and 19 percent respectively in 2014 compared to 2013.

At least 149 armed robbery and murder cases were reported during the same period.

In 2013, 113 suspects were arrested while 124 armed robbery and murder cases were reported.