Police have expressed concern over the upsurge in cases of fraud involving residential stands and houses in the country.
Officer Commanding Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Senior Assistant Commissioner Simon Nyathi said cases of fraud involving stands and houses soared by 39% compared to same periods covering February 2009 to January 2010 and February 2010 to January 2011.
Nyathi said this while officiating at the CID detective of the month awards ceremony at Morris Depot in Harare last Thursday.
Nyathi said if it were not for the rise in fraud involving houses and stands, police would have increased their crime detection rate much higher than the current 52%.
“Although we are a bit disturbed by the fraud trend, we find strength in the fact that we are now aware of the methods that are being used by the syndicates,” said Nyathi.
“In most fraud cases, victims are duped through online transactions or after having been presented with false documents. Based on the information at hand, we have since formulated appropriate strategies to mitigate the problem,” he said.
He said in most cases, prospective house owners were duped by bogus companies into buying non-existent properties.
Speaking at the same function, Commissioner Solomon Mubatapasango warned corrupt police officers that the law would catch up with them.
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“Let me express my utmost displeasure at unprincipled police officers who in contrast to the dictates of the organisation’s values and ethics, engage in nefarious corrupt activities,” said Mubatapasango.
“It is without doubt that CID is littered with temptations of participating in corrupt activities taking into consideration the glaring fact that criminals are always ready to bribe you handsomely due to the gravity of the charges they would be facing.”
