There’s no stopping Slippery Sam at Trade Fair

The Herald, May 2, 1981

THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair’s most hardened criminal, Slippery Sam, has been arrested more than a dozen times since the show began.

Each time he has “escaped” to roam the Trade Fair site until some eagle- eyed visitor has pounced on him again.

Slippery Sam is the villain of the peace in one of the daily competitions being run from the ZRP stand at the Trade Fair.

Each day posters giving his description are displayed and the hunt is on.

Visitors who “arrest” Slippery Sam receive a certificate commending their powers of observation.

Slippery Sam has been played by several different people and there has even been a Slippery Sue. But all have been arrested.

“It is really a bit of run,” said Inspector John Munro of the ZRP. “But it also demonstrates that people can be spotted from an accurate description.”

LESSONS FOR TODAY

◆ For the police to be effective in discharging its duties, it should strive to maintain strong relationships of mutual trust with communities, which in most cases are critical in providing information that is crucial in solving cases.

◆ People should always be observant and be aware of things t hat would be happening around them or people that they meet because such information can be very critical. In the story, the Police were trying to conscientise the public about this through an exercise in which they used Slippery Sam.

◆ Mock exercises are essential because they allow people to be alert and to prepare for eventualities.

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