Story by Tafara Chikumira
GWERU – A suspected habitual criminal has been arrested in connection with over 20 cases of unlawful entry and theft after a police operation that has left some Gweru residents relieved.
Gweru-based Joseph Phiri, aged 41 was apprehended after weeks of surveillance and community-led intelligence sharing.
Phiri who was released from prison in 2023 after serving a sentence for murder is alleged to have terrorised several neighborhoods across Gweru.
The arrest has led to the recovery of property worth thousands of dollars, including solar panels, television sets, and other essential household items believed to have been stolen during the crime spree.
“This is a major breakthrough resulting from the combined efforts of our police officers and members of the public,” ZRP Gweru District DISPOL, Chief superintendent Doctor Leon Marongedza said.
“We had been recording a worrying number of housebreaking and theft cases. This arrest has helped us close at least 20 of those, as the suspect led our officers to the houses where the crimes were committed. We encourage community members who lost property to come forward and identify the recovered goods.”
The recovery of the stolen property has brought closure to some of the community members who had been disturbed by losing their valuable goods.
“I never thought I would recover my stolen solar panels. It was heartbreaking when they were stolen, I had saved for months to buy them,” one relieved resident said.
“I can not express my happiness after I saw my valuables among the recovered items. Today, I am a happy citizen, thanks to the good works by our law enforcement agents,” another added.
Cases of unlawful entry and theft have become common in Gweru suburbs, amid calls for stiffer penalties to perpetrators to deter would-be offenders.
