admin
Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
POLICE last week separately arrested 10 armed robbers accused of seizing cellphones, cash and other valuables from several people in Harare, Marondera and Karoi.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests saying the first five were arrested on Thursday following a shoot-out with police in Chitungwiza.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirms the arrest of five armed robbers who were involved in a number of robbery cases in Marondera, Harare and other towns since January 2019.
“The gang was arrested in Chitungwiza after alert detectives laid an ambush at a local night club,” he said.
He said the gang led by Tatenda Mubaiwa affectionately known as “T–One” exchanged gunfire with detectives and tried to drive away in a Toyota Mark X which had no registration number plates.
After warning shots had been fired, police shot the right rear wheel of the vehicle, but the criminals continued to drive away towards Delport Road in Harare.
The detectives pursued and arrested two of them whilst the other three were later arrested with the assistance of members of the public.
One of the injured suspects later died at Chitungwiza General Hospital.
Police in Karoi also arrested five men in connection with several cases of fraud and robbery.
“The criminals would on several occasions dupe unsuspecting members of the public to believe that they had a lorry laden with goodies at Chikangwe Primary School, the complainants would be offered employment to off load the lorry on condition that they surrender valuables in their possession as surety.
The criminals would then disappear with the surrendered property including cellphones, groceries and cash,” Asst-Comm Nyathi said.
He said at the time of arrest, the accused persons were found with 23 bank cards, three cellphones and an assortment of groceries.
Last Thursday, seven unknown armed robbers attacked two people at a house in Tynwald South after they used a hammer and iron bars to break the gate and doors to the house.
They fired several shots into the air and assaulted the 2 complainants with iron bars before they ransacked the house and stole US$5 400, 00 and ZWL$12 000 which was in the car before they fled from the scene.
In another incident, five armed men broke into a house in Waterfalls, Harare and threatened to shoot a man and his wife.
They tied the victims with shoe laces and ransacked the house and stole US$5 700, ZWL$705, eight cellphones and a 3mm Rossi pistol before they drove away in complaint’s navy blue Mercedes Benz ML 320 vehicle.
Another family in Inyathi lost US$1 800 and ZWL$63 200 and a Toyota Camry to three armed robbers last week.
Online Reporter