Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
RESIDENTS of Mabelreign suburb in Harare have raised concern that some schools in the area may be keeping large sums of cash, after armed robbers targeted a third school within a week.
Three armed men reportedly attacked security guards at Mabelreign Girls High School yesterday, leaving one guard in a critical condition before getting away with at least US$500.
The latest incident follows a string of robberies targeting educational institutions.
In the Good Hope area of Westgate, robbers attacked a school and an orphanage, escaping with more than US$30 000.
At Hallingbury Primary School, a security guard was killed during a similar attack, while at Marlborough High School, robbers reportedly stole US$28 within five days.
At Mabelreign Girls High School, one guard was conducting routine perimeter checks when he encountered three men in the school yard.
The suspects allegedly overpowered him and force-marched him to the administration block.
The attackers were armed with a hammer, torches, strands of wire, pliers and crowbars.
They tied the guard’s hands and legs before ordering him to lie down.
The robbers then proceeded to the SDC block, where they found the second guard and struck him on the forehead with an unknown object, causing a deep cut.
They later broke into the administration block, forced open the storeroom door and dismantled a safe containing less than US$500.
It is understood that the safe was loaded into an unidentified vehicle before the suspects sped off.
Police officers attended the scene, while additional officers were deployed in the area to intensify investigations and enhance security.
A community member, identified only as Edson, said residents were now living in fear and urged authorities to act decisively.
“We are living in fear of these robbers. If the Guruve murderer was apprehended by community members, we can do that as well, with the help of police officers deployed,” he said.
Edson also claimed that they suspect that the attacks on the institutions could be based on inside information.
“They might be keeping large volumes of money because the robbers work with information from the targeted place,” he said.
He said that some schools could be underreporting stolen amounts.
“Banking money is the best solution,” Edson said.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment.
However, it has been established that Commissioner Maxwell Chikunguru, the Officer Commanding Harare Province, is expected to lead an awareness campaign today at Mabelreign Shopping Centre.
