Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
A DARING gang of armed robbers stormed Kariba Fresh Bakery in the Nyakamete Industrial Area on Wednesday morning, and made off with over US$5 580 and ZiG9 000.
The armed robbers, who struck at around 2am, tied up 19 bakery workers and three unarmed security guards, before using dynamites to blast open a safe that contained the cash.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident, and said investigations are underway to apprehend the suspects and recover the stolen money. The police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation.
“Four unidentified male suspects, all wearing black face masks, approached the bakery from the western side, by scaling the precast wall that surrounds the premises. One of them was armed with an unidentified pistol,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka. He said upon entering the premises, the suspects confronted three unarmed security guards, and ordered them to lie on the ground. They tied their hands using their own shoelaces, before proceeding into the main bakery where 19 employees were busy at work. The robbers rounded up all the unsuspecting workers, and ordered them to lie on the ground as well.
“The masked men used a metal hammer to force-open the cash office door, where they retrieved keys to the accounts office. They dragged the safe from the accounts office into the cash office, and blasted it open using Emex 70 dynamites. The safe gave in, and the suspects stole US$5 586 and ZiG$9 000,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He said during the course of the robbery, the suspects assaulted three workers using a metal object. “Their condition is stable and no serious injuries were observed. In a further effort to cover their tracks, the suspects vandalised the bakery’s surveillance infrastructure before executing the robbery. The Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, television monitor, and DVR set were all damaged,” he said. The robbers also stole a Samsung A3 cellphone from one of the employees, Mr Munyaradzi Chibaya.
“After executing their criminal mission, the gang escaped through the same western side by removing two panels of the precast wall. Though the alarm system was triggered and a response was made by Fawcett Security Company, the suspects had already fled the scene before law enforcement could intervene,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said the police, together with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) attended the scene and conducted preliminary investigations.
He also reminded business owners to strengthen security measures at their premises to deter such criminal acts.
“A thorough search of the premises was conducted. It was also ascertained that the suspects spoke fluent Shona during the robbery. While no shots were fired during the armed robbery, the level of planning and
coordination displayed by the suspects shows a concerning level of sophistication. We urge all businesses to ensure their CCTV systems are functional and backed up, and that their alarm responses are quick and thorough,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged members of the public to assist with any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects or the recovery of the stolen property.
“Police have opened an investigation into the matter and are appealing for anyone who might have seen suspicious activity near the area in the early hours of August 6 to come forward. As of now, no arrests have been made and none of the stolen money has been recovered,” he said.
