Armed robbers in shootout with cops

a halt as people scampered for cover.
The suspect is believed to be part of a four-man gang that had been cornered by detectives in the city centre while trying to sell fake 500 grammes of platinum to unsuspecting client.
The detectives, however, managed to force the suspected armed robber to surrender before he could rush to the gang’s VW Golf getaway car that was parked nearby.
They were all arrested.
The detectives recovered 500 grammes of fake platinum, which the suspects; James Shumba alias Shoko (32), Givemore Shiri (31) both of Madamombe communal lands in Mberengwa, Muchengeti Moyo (35) and Everson Utsvene (38) both of Chingoma communal lands in Mberengwa, were trying to sell to an unsuspecting buyer.
According to police, the four suspects had misled the buyer of the fake platinum that they were employees at Unki Platinum Mine in Shurugwi.
Masvingo acting police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Prosper Mugauri, last Friday confirmed the arrest of the four suspects and said investigations were continuing.
“We arrested four Mberengwa men who were trying to sell platinum to an unsuspecting buyer and we managed to recover both the fake platinum that was wrapped in a plastic paper and their getaway vehicle.
“Investigations are continuing.
“They will appear in court soon,” said Ass Insp Mugauri.
It is alleged that the four-gang members from Mberengwa agreed to meet the unsuspecting buyer based at Driefontein Mission in Masvingo at a certain location in Masvingo City so that they could sell him some platinum.
The suspects had allegedly misrepresented themselves to the buyer that they were employees at Unki Platinum mine and that they had access to platinum and gold.
After the suspects met the buyer in the city centre one of the gang members offered to accompany the buyer to a city hotel where tests to determine the authenticity of the mineral were to be done.
While on their way to the hotel, one of the gang members allegedly connived with the buyer to under-declare the value of the platinum to the other gang members.
He promised to share the difference with the buyer.
However, the member of the gang was arrested at the hotel before they could transact after detectives had received a tip off.
Police detectives were also led to where two other gang members were waiting in a getaway car and managed to arrest them before arresting the other suspect who shot at the police.
Meanwhile, police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bzudzijena yesterday warned armed robbers that the police would arrest them no matter how long it would take.
“In armed robbery cases, we do not tolerate people who illegally use fire arms.
“In that case our rate of arrest has been 99 percent . . . We will arrest them no matter how long it will take,” he said.
He warned people who deal in precious minerals to work with licence dealers.
Snr Ass Comm Bvudzijena said it was also high time that businesspeople banked their money.
“We are urging members of the public to use the banks and never keep large sums of money at home.
“We have reached a stage where we have confidence in the banking sector.
“These armed robbers pounce on some of their victims because they will be acting on inside information,” he said.
Following the introduction of the multi-currency in the economy two years ago, many people and busineses are still not confident with the banking sector resulting in some of them keeping large sums of money at home or on business premises.