Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
FIVE armed robbers blew up an ATM at a bank in Murehwa Centre in the early hours of yesterday and made off with US$30,000 and ZiG15,000.
The daring robbery happened around 2am, leaving residents shaken as police launched investigations to track down the gang.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the robbery.
“We are investigating an armed robbery incident which occurred in Murehwa where five suspects blew up an ATM and went away with US$30,000 as well as ZiG15,000.
“We will release more information later as investigations continue,” Comm Nyathi said.
The suspects are said to have first disarmed and assaulted a security guard who was manning the bank before using explosives to blow up the ATM.
They also allegedly tried to capture another security guard at a nearby bank but failed.
The robbery has left Murehwa residents worried, with some calling for a swift police response.
One resident, who declined to be named, said the latest incident had heightened fears among people in the area.
“We woke up today (yesterday) to this devastating news that our area has been attacked by armed robbers and some money has been stolen.
“This is scary and we are concerned with this spate of robbery incidents as citizens and Government should put a stop to this.
“We are now afraid to conduct our business due to these criminals.”
Another resident said police should move quickly to arrest the suspects.
“We have trust in our police to deal with these issues promptly. We know they are capable of finding these culprits.
“What happened in Murehwa is wrong. To our police, please help us and bring these people to book. Murehwa and the entire nation should be free from these armed robbers.”
The latest incident comes amid a series of armed robberies targeting cash-rich businesses across the country.
In Bulawayo, more than US$64,000 and R1,000 was stolen in three robberies targeting mobile money outlets and a cash collection centre between July 13 and 17.
On July 13, two armed suspects raided a mobile money booth at Emganwini Shopping Centre and escaped with US$2,000 and Econet airtime worth US$280.
Three days later, another mobile money outlet in Cowdray Park was targeted as workers closed for the day.
The robbers got away with US$8,653, R1 000 and two mobile phones used for transactions after reportedly locking employees and a customer inside an office.
On July 17, four armed men stormed a cash collection centre along Fort Street while 16 cashiers were reconciling the day’s takings.
The gang forced employees to lie on the floor at gunpoint before escaping with about US$53,000.
