SECURITY NOTICE U.S. EMBASSY, HARARE

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1 Number: DATE: October 28 th, 2016 TO: FROM: All American Personnel Regional Security Office SUBJECT: Holiday Security Awareness Zimbabwe continues to be rated Critical for crime and the holiday season generally brings with it an upsurge in crime in Harare. Although we do not have any specific criminal threat information, it is imperative we continue to remain vigilant and present a hard target with regards to residential and personal security practices. The continuing cash crisis appears to be spurring new opportunistic crime. Over the past month we have experienced thefts from vehicles, insider threats from domestic employees, and attempted thefts from vehicles along Fife Avenue. Two vehicles have been victimized at GAVAS in Belgravia and an employee was just recently robbed in the TM grocery store parking adjacent to Sam Levy s Village. The UK security chief reports that they are aware of four events at this TM grocery store. Here is a short security checklist to remember during this holiday season and best practices to follow in the coming New Year: Travel Locator: All COM Americans are required to submit a travel locator for all travel 40 kilometers outside of Harare. For those traveling for the holidays, it is critical Management and RSO know where you are for accountability purposes, and who is allowed in your Embassy residence in your absence. The link to the RSO Travel Locator is on the RSO intranet: Alarm Systems:

2 Use your residential alarm and participate in the routine alarm/panic button checks coordinated by RSO s Residential Security Coordinator (RSC). Any questions about your residential alarm should be directed to RSC Weston Chimbwanda at ChimbwandaWS@state.gov or RSOHarare@state.gov Electric Fencing/Razor Wire/Perimeter Walls: Ensure that foliage is regularly removed around your perimeter wall to expose your razor wire and prevent false electric fence alarms (if installed). Degradation of these security features allows intruders to easily defeat the perimeter wall. If your electric fence is malfunctioning, let RSO know so it can be quickly repaired do not simply turn the fence off. Lighting: Routinely check outdoor lighting to determine lights that are out. Submit a work order through eservices to rectify any lighting issues. Residential Access Control: Please control the keys to your residence. The RSO does not recommend giving your keys to others. If you need to give your domestic staff a key, limit it to one key for a door that contains two locks. Beware of visits from people claiming to need access to your residence, impersonating Embassy personnel, the authorities or security companies, or purporting to be friends of your staff. All Embassy-related visits to your residence should be precoordinated by GSO, FM, or the RSO. Do not allow staff to open the front gate for any unexpected visitors, including maintenance. Embassy employees will arrive in a CD plated vehicles and should present their badges.

3 Please call Post One for emergency response at ext 4844 or by cell at Duty agents and the Mobile Patrol are available 24/7 and stand ready to respond, but all coordination should be done through Post One. Please instruct all family members including children on the proper telephone/cell phone/radio procedures and the use of the safe haven and emergency escapes. Place emergency numbers in an easily accessible area, and see RSO if you need a replacement refrigerator magnet or contact card with emergency numbers. As always, please report all unusual or suspicious activity to the RSO. Including possible instances of surveillance as mentioned in the CI/contact reporting presentation. In closing, the RSO staff wishes you and your families a safe and happy holiday season! The RSO section is always available to answer any questions regarding your personal or residential security. Drafted: RSO RCounts Cleared: CONS Approved: ADCM

4 Number: DATE: October 13, 2016 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: All Post Personnel Regional Security Office Personal Security Best Practices-Child Safety Harare s Critical ratings for crime continue, although it seems at times that the actual crime levels/incidents have plateaued recently. However, there have been additional instances of specific criminal activity that have been documented over the past 2 weeks vehicle burglaries at Borrowdale Race Track and at Belgravia Sports Club (Gavas coffee shop) and new report of highly suspicious activity involving young children. RSO has corroborated an attempted kidnapping of an infant by four to five individuals (men and women) inside the Spar supermarket in Sam Levy s Village. We were also advised (initially via circulating social media sites) of other uncorroborated incidents at the Queen of Hearts Café parking lot and Mt. Pleasant pool (NFI). As a result, RSO is highlighting these suspicious reports with everyone although we cannot confirm if it is a new trend, or isolated acts of targeting mothers in public with small children. RSO is communicating with the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) regarding these incidents. As always, instruct all family members to remain vigilant and be aware of strangers exhibiting unusual interest in infants and young toddlers. Never allow any strangers to pick up or touch your children. In response to these reported kidnapping attempts, Spar, Queen of Hearts, and the Hellenic Academy in Borrowdale have issued strong warnings to parents regarding child safety just this week. Additionally, Spar and Queen of Hearts have increased security measures to ensure the safety of their customers (allegedly one instance occurred in their parking lot with strangers attempting to get close and converse with a parent and her child). If you encounter suspicious or unusual activity immediately sound the alarm, remove yourself from the situation, and if possible report the activity to the nearest security guard, store manager, or ZRP officer. Notify Post One at (x4844) or RSO duty agents and the Mobile Patrol are available 24/7 and stand ready to respond.

5 Drafted: ARSO: JFatchett Cleared: RSO: RCounts Approved: DCM KKelley (Acting)