Published by the government of Zimbabwe
12 November 2009
Harare — COMPANIES have been warned, on the back of increasing levels of crime, against use of sub-standard safes to secure valuables.
This comes as it emerged thieves have acquired knowledge from the Internet on how to break computer codes to gain access into safes.
National Safes' commercial manager Mr Itai Magoronga said breaking of safe codes has been on the rise.
Reports indicate home and business break-ins trippled within the past six months.
"The advent of technology has enabled access to information that some thieves have used to educate themselves specifically for purposes of breaking into safes and getting access to high yield contents," said Mr Magoronga.
He added that the rise in crime at homes and workplaces had also resulted in most business operators opting for cheap but ineffective safes that would eventually be broken into with ease.
"One recently proven devastating truth to safe owners is that cost cutting has proved to be a shot in one's own foot especially when it comes to purchasing safes.
"Most top selling safes appear robust but are in fact severely crippled in their core ability to protect from theft.
"The vast majority of safes found in homes and businesses can be forced open within minutes by unskilled thieves using standard tools," he added.
Safe producers from around the country are warning property owners of an increase in reported burglaries and internal thefts.
"Based on direct client reports, the number of break-ins and internal thefts for home and business owners has increased three-fold," he said.
Research and reports from break-ins at companies and homes who keep their valuables in safes has also shown that in addition to video on safe-cracking, in-experienced criminals now have instant access to a large selection of videos on burglary.
These videos in question reveal secrets previously reserved for the criminal elite.
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