Polokwane CPF warns of strategic burglaries targeting local businesses
Recent arrests have revealed evolving tactics as a rise in business burglaries shows criminals in Polokwane favour quiet break-ins over violence.
POLOKWANE – Burglary has become a growing concern in Polokwane as criminals continue to target businesses with a less confrontational approach, prompting the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) to warn business owners and customers to stay vigilant.
The CPF notes that property criminals have become more tactful, preferring stealthy break-ins over violent confrontations.
Statistics for March and April this year show an increase in business burglaries compared to the same months in 2024. March alone saw 28 cases of burglary, up from 18 in March 2024, while April experienced a rise from 27 to 32 cases in the same period.
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This increase has raised questions about the effectiveness of security measures implemented by local businesses.
In contrast, cases of business robberies – where force or threats of violence are used – remain significantly lower, with just six reported in April this year, down from seven in April 2024.
Similarly, there were only two reported cases of business robbery in March 2025, compared to five the previous year.
This suggests a shift in criminal tactics, with criminals opting for quieter, less direct methods to break in rather than engaging in violent confrontations.
Polokwane CPF Chairperson, Rudolph Phaswana, stated that these changes in crime trends indicate that criminals are becoming more strategic in their methods.
He urged business owners and customers to remain alert and informed, as the CPF continues to monitor and respond to crime hotspots in the city.
In related developments, the police made significant arrests on Friday, apprehending four suspects involved in recent business robberies and cellphone theft in Polokwane’s central business district (CBD).
The suspects, including Zimbabwean nationals, were arrested in Ga-Makibela, Moletjie, and Seshego by a team of detectives and the tactical response group.
According to provincial police spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba, the suspects were linked to robberies targeting various businesses, including three food outlets, two supermarkets, several pharmacies, a bakery and a boutique.
The police also arrested a suspected buyer, another Zimbabwean national, who was found with three stolen cellphones in his possession.
Mashaba confirmed that the suspects had been positively linked to nine out of 20 recent business robberies
. The police also seized several stolen items, including cellphones and a pallet firearm loaded with four blank rounds. Investigations are ongoing, with further charges of possession of suspected stolen property being filed.
