The ManicaPost
Luxson Chananda, Assistant Inspector
Recently, an irate elderly man stormed into the Press and Public Relations office in Mutare and police officers had a torrid time trying to cool his nerves down just to hear his story.
This time around it was not about the police failing to do their duty in some way as is usually the case here but rather, it was about his neighbour failing to report a case where his house had been broken into and various property stolen despite tell-tale signs of criminal activity strewn around the home.
According to him, it was obvious his neighbour could not have failed to see that the area around his home was a crime scene, close as his house was to his.
The man had left for his rural home with his whole family leaving no one in attendance.
Upon his return after a few days, he found the main gate at the entrance to the home wide open, the screen gate and screen door broken and both bent in the most awkward and very conspicuous manner.
What incensed him most, besides the fact that the disturbing sight was visible even from the road, was that his neighbour’s gate was very close to his own.
One step outside and he would be staring right at his own gate.
Surely, the neighbour should have seen what happened and taken some action.
The man felt terribly let down.
The man posed very pertinent questions.
Why did the neighbour not bother to find out whether he had returned when he saw the main gate open?
Could he not have heard the noise when culprits broke the glasses on the door and bent the iron bars on the screen door? Fading tyre tracks indicated a vehicle had been driven to the entrance of the house.
Could he not have heard the sound of the vehicle? If he did observe all these things, why did he not alert other neighbours and, above all, why did he not report the matter to the police?
To him, the neighbour’s conduct went beyond mere lack of concern but suggested that kind of care-free attitude which amounts to unconscious criminal conspiracy.
The point in question here is whether our action or non-action to incidents of crime in our neighbourhood justify the essence of brotherly and sisterly love or vice versa.
For some simple example, a late dusk view from the comfort of the balcony will tell you that the family next door has returned from the day’s outing or that the same family has been away for some days even if lights were left on.
In rural areas the padlock often gives residents away because even a stranger can tell that there is no one at the home.
How? The lock hangs out on the door from outside unlike the knob lock which you have to test by turning the handle and pushing the door to see if it is locked or not but then this takes some really daring person to do so.
In many instances, it is not uncommon to hear an individual calling out to their neighbour that they left keys under the door mat, in the flower bed or under a stone intending, of course, the neighbour to pass the message to their children upon their return from various places.
This is very much unneighbourly as it brings about criminal minds in otherwise law-abiding citizens.
Good neighbours hold onto each other’s belts as they move forward to ward off criminals from their vicinity.
Some points are surely important to take note of here.
Criminals hate attention and will therefore find berth in residence where everyone goes to sleep and do not mind what is happening next door — typical of one minding his or her own business.
However, the truth is you are certainly minding your business when you worry about your neighbour’s welfare with regard to crime.
Let us look at our own Mutare situation.
The scenario obtaining in the Greenside, Morningside, Murambi and Bordervale areas is that there is less late night activity probably due to the places’ low density nature.
The converse side of their peacefulness and almost lifeless tranquillity at this time is the tendency to offer criminals a conducive environment to plan and pounce on homes.
We acknowledge that roving police patrols may not cover much ground and this requires residents organising themselves to complement police efforts.
Our motto should then be “criminals be elsewhere not here” and when everyone adopts it, criminals will certainly find themselves in the middle of nowhere.
While we advocate for and attempt to stimulate neighbourly interest in the community, let us remember that criminals as individuals and groups may also decide to operate under the guise of people protecting their neighbourhood.
There should, therefore, be a systematic way of undertaking close local security like for instance, adopting uniform and easily recognised modes of operation and dress codes as well as establishing links with residents and the local police.
Residents need to be familiar with their Neighbourhood Security and should be able to easily tell what their watchmen do and do not do, for example, demanding entry into houses or unnecessary interference with movement of ordinary people and traffic or having hands that are readily given to sifting the interior of people’s bags and pockets.
It is, therefore, smart to join our local neighbourhood watch committees knowing very well that it is the only way we can express our concern for our neighbourhood and bearing responsibility for safeguarding its welfare.
ZRP Manicaland Press and Public Relations
