ATM bombings, armed robberies under control- Mmusi
Pini Bothoko | Monday February 20, 2023 06:00
Just a year ago, cash-in-transit robberies kept the police on their toes with weekly occurrences as robbers staged heists, overpowering security company guards and making off with large sums of money.
For years, the country had experienced an upsurge in cases of robberies where in most cases fire arms were used and thereby posing a danger to the lives of both members of the public and law enforcement officers.
Concerned with this scourge as well as incidents of street robbery, last year February when officiating the 48th Botswana Police Senior Officers annual conference, Mmusi made a bold statement instructing the police to do whatever it takes to eliminate petty criminals as people were living in constant fear even in the comfort of their homes and cars.
Then, a week after the minister’s instruction, the police shot and killed 10 armed robbers at Phase 2, Gaborone after they robbed a Security Systems cash-in-transit motor vehicle of over P986,000, the money that was being transported to Bank of Baroda in the Main mall. Thereafter, strings of shootings followed with more and more armed robbers losing their lives in exchange of fire with the police. Indeed the defense minister’s efforts to eliminate petty crimes are bearing fruit hence his assurance.
Mmusi revealed that the ministry is managing the situation due to concerted efforts by all law enforcement agencies led by the Botswana Police Service (BPS). “I would like to assure this house that incidents of ATM bombings and armed robberies are under control.
The BPS will therefore, continue to monitor the situation and adjust its strategies to ensure that the crimes are put under total control,” he said. Mmusi was responding to a question that was raised by the MP for Tati West constituency, Simon Moabi who had asked the Minister whether he intends to introduce any measures or take any steps to curb the increasing rate of ATM bombings and armed robberies in the country, including kidnappings, torturing of women and children and the increase of Gender Based Violence (GBV) incidents. Moabi also wanted to know what the police have established as the cause of the rise in these incidents when investigating the incidents.
“What could have been fueling these cases, don’t you think there are some people who were behind these incidents or sponsoring those ATM bombings and heists? As an intervention, police are now escorting cash-in-transist vehicles, how is this move affecting your budget? Furthermore, police stations in my area are faced with shortage of transport as most cars are used to escort cash-in-transit vehicles and people in my area are also struggling,' further asked Moabi. Responding to his questions, Mmusi said ATM bombings and cash-in-transit heists started a few years ago in Botswana but have been common amongst some neighbouring countries.
He stated that the same armed robbers ended up introducing those crime incidents in Botswana hence to have intensified partnership with their neighbouring countries police to curb the scourge. Mmusi further conceded to have stretched the ministry’s budget to intervene and escort cash-in-transit vehicles in order to protect those large sums of money. “The ministry, particularly the police, has been stretched and had to sacrifice some of its services to cater for safe transportation of the money. We do not have specific budgets for them but we did not have a choice but to intervene and help security companies secure that money,” he said. Back in 2021 the country experienced a surge of cash-in-transit heists recording 15 incidents where security motor vehicles transporting cash were attacked at gun point and millions of pula stolen.
However, last year ATM blastings surfaced and replaced cash-in-transit heists. Then, in one of the robberies that left the nation in shock and remained unsolved to date, robbers made away with money close to P9 million in cash at Block 6 in Gaborone and the money was never recovered. In yet another heist, armed robbers also overpowered G4S Security guards at Middle Star Shopping Mall and made away with cash amounting to P7.4 million, the money that was also never recovered. Thereafter, more robberies continued to occur with large sums of money lost at the hands of criminals. Regarding cases of kidnappings Mmusi said these cases are rarely recorded by the police stating that only one case was reported in the last five years. Regarding GBV, Mmusi revealed to have put in place measures to combat the scourge.
He stated that the move is illustrated by the opening of children friendly centres at different police stations across the country, to provide a conducive environment, whereby victims can be attended to, without possible intimidation. “The BPS continues to build capacity in dealing with GBV at both pre-service and in-service levels. The police involve the community in fighting all acts of crime including GBV through its outreach programmes targeting vulnerable groups such as students, youth, women and children,” Mmusi said.