Suburban
A THIEF allegedly stole US$1 500 from a house in Greendale in the early hours of Tuesday morning this week which was in a safe in the main bedroom.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
The resident who lost the money told Suburban that the break-in took place around 3am. She said no one was hurt at the house during the break-in and theft.
“We were only two, me and my husband in the house.
“I just heard some sounds and I thought it was coming from outside.
“I continued to hear the sounds and then I had to turn around. I was sleeping facing the other side.
“When I turned facing the wardrobe, that’s when I saw someone standing the other side of the wardrobe,” said the Greendale resident.
She said she was in shock and started screaming chasing after the thief.
“When I started screaming, the thief started running away.
“It was only one thief, a man who seemed like a teenage boy.
“I then chased him because I was in shock and didn’t know what I was doing.
“Then when I entered a bedroom that is downstairs, I noticed there was a window that was open and a burglar bar that was twisted open.
“That’s when he got out through that bedroom window.
“We couldn’t even see where he went as it was dark,” said the Greendale resident.
She said she later realised that the thief was standing at the wardrobe where there is a safe with cash.
“The safe was opened.
“I think this guy had some keys to the safe which are not ours.
“We hide our keys, the keys were not there,” said the Greendale resident.
She suspects that the thief might have had a duplicate key as there was no forced entry to the safe.
The resident said she is suspecting that her former worker might have helped the thief as she once confronted him over the issue of missing spare keys to the safe which she had lost but he denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the keys and later quit his job.
“He used his own keys to open the safe and stole the money that was inside.
“There was US$1 500 in the safe.
“He took all the money and he left,” she said.
Of late the Kamfinsa Neighbourhood Watch (KNW) has embarked on a campaign to get residents of Greendale to join the security arrangement and help protect their neighbourhood, properties, the lives of loved ones and pets.
In March, residents of Athlone lost Zesa cables to daring thieves while property was also stolen when robbers allegedly broke into some houses in the area.
Patrol coordinator for Greendale Athlone Neighbourhood Watch Bishop Amos Chaniwa said the electricity cables were stolen near the Trinity Road and Wilson Road area.
“I am requesting all residents to be vigilant especially when power goes out, whether it is load shedding or a fault.
“Please can each road have a smaller group of residents just to look out for possible people loitering.
“Call your fellow neighbours or any of us for assistance,” he said.
Bishop Chaniwa urged residents to pay their monthly security subscriptions.
A resident of Athlone said thieves stole three mobile phones and cash amounting to US$80 recently, which was in the bedroom at their house.
Also in March, thieves broke into a property on Russell Avenue and stole a television in the morning. Along St Malo another resident also reported having had a break-in.
The resident said thieves stole a play station, blanket and remote control among other things.
“We are still checking for other things.
“We later found the iron outside,” said the resident.
A resident from Fallon Avenue said thieves broke a window on Monday last week around 3pm but they did not steal anything.
“They were testing if there was someone at home and luckily my kids were around,” she said.
A security company Exact Technologies situated at Athlone shopping centre has urged residents to buy door or window sensors which cost US$5 each and residents can install them on their own without the need of hiring a technician.
“Greendale residents, let’s try to avoid petty thefts from our houses which are avoidable.
“A door or window sensor costs US$5 and you do not need a technician to put it for you, its DIY (do it yourself),” said Exact Technologies.
