adminPamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
SHOP workers and customers had to scurry for cover when four armed robbers pounced at Munyoro Business Centre in Nkulumane 11 and an Ecocash outlet at Sekusile Shopping centre on Wednesday night. The gun-totting robbers left shop workers and customers in shock when they unexpectedly launched surprise attacks on the shops before escaping with a total of $1,845.
The three shops, Cup Supermarket trading as Lucky 7, TZ Supermarket and Mako Nights Sports Bar lost all their Wednesday’s takings in less than 15 minutes.
One of the robbers reportedly slapped a shop assistant on the cheek before firing a shot to frighten the shoppers and workers.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident yesterday but said the suspects were on the run.
“Bulawayo police are handling four armed robbery cases that occurred in Nkulumane suburb in the evening of December 18, 2013.
“Three of the incidents occurred at shops that are at Munyoro Shopping Centre while the other occurred at an Ecocash outlet at Sekusile Shopping Centre,” he said.
Insp Moyo added, “At about 7pm, four male robbers went into a supermarket where they fired one shot and ordered everyone inside to lie down. They demanded money and managed to get $600.”
Insp Moyo said the robbers proceeded to a shop next door and produced a pistol before ordering everyone inside to lie down.
He said: “They took $92 from the tills and went to the bottle store where they fired one shot before ordering everyone inside to lie down. They took away $127 before searching a patron who had $300 in his pocket.
“At about 7.45pm four armed robbers went to an Ecocash outlet at Sekusile Shopping Centre where they produced a pistol and demanded money. They took away $276.”
Insp Moyo said robbers were on the prowl especially during the festive season and warned the business community to be careful.
“It is against this background that we warn the business community to regularly bank their cash and ensure that their banking schedules are unpredictable. We encourage them to invest in securities like close circuit televisions (CCTV) and alarms,” he said.
“The intelligence we have gathered suggests that armed robbers carry out extensive surveillance of their target before striking.
“It is important that businesspeople first carry out a security risk analysis before choosing sites of their business ventures.”
He advised business people to enlist services of reputable security companies in the transmission of large sums of money to and from banks or to use of real time gross settlement services.
“Supermarkets should ensure that tills are regularly emptied so that if an attack occurs, robbers will get away with small amounts of money. They should also monitor activities in an around the premises at all times and stick to the stipulated closing time as operating late exposes them to criminals,” said Insp Moyo.
He warned people not to resist when they are attacked by armed robbers as the criminals do not hesitate to kill if they feel their safety is at stake.
Insp Moyo also urged members of the public to report people who move with firearms as they pose danger.
He said those who legally own firearms should ensure that they keep them in safes and carry them only for the purposes specified on their firearms certificates.
Insp Moyo urged the public to promptly report any suspicious characters they see roaming in the vicinity of business premises.
He said a reward was being offered for information leading to the arrest of the robbers and appealed to anyone with information that may assist in accounting for the armed robbers to contact the police on (09) 885479, 881466, 77523 or 110 through Netone.
Online Reporter