Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A GANG of four armed robbers ambushed two security guards at Greengables High School on Thursday and tied them up before ransacking five offices and stealing over US$2 000 in cash alongside various electronic gadgets.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the alarming incident revealing that the suspects were armed with a pistol when they struck the boarding school located 22 kilometres outside Bulawayo’s Central Business District.
“Police are investigating a case of armed robbery which took place at a certain high school in Pumula. On 31 October 2024 around 2am, two security guards were on duty, one was seated in the Lower Six classrooms whilst the other was filling water into the tanks within the schoolyard.
“Four unknown accused persons armed with an unknown pistol entered the Lower Six classrooms where one of the security guards was seated, pointed the pistol at him, ordered him to lie on the ground and tied his hands with a cable tie,” said Ass Insp Msebele.
She said the four men then proceeded to the water tanks, grabbed the other security guard, tied his hands with a cellphone charger, legs with shoelaces and brought him to the classroom before leaving one accused person armed with a pistol guarding the two security guards while the other three accused persons proceeded to the administration block.
The thieves reportedly shattered a window in the boardroom, which had no burglar bars to gain access to the offices.
“They ransacked the reception office, headmaster’s office, director of finance and administration office, bursary office, and deputy headmaster’s office and stole cellphones which were in an unlocked table drawer, three laptops, cash amounting to US$2 250, three Wi-Fi routers and a laptop bag.
Inside the laptop bag was the headmaster’s wallet with particulars and examination timetable,” Asst Insp Msebele added.
In light of this incident, she urged the public, especially schools, to enhance security measures for their administrative blocks by installing strong burglar bars on windows and secure screen doors.
Earlier this year, at least seven schools reported armed robberies within two weeks, with concerns raised about potential inside jobs. There has been an increase in robberies at schools with thieves taking advantage of the acceptance of fees in cash rather than electronic transfers or bank payments. @nyeve14
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