adminMasvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tinaye Matake confirmed the busting of a shoplifting racket consisting of predominantly women and a few men and said the group was in custody assisting police with investigations.
Insp Matake said on Thursday at around 4.30 pm, police received information that the city had been invaded by a group of shoplifters who were travelling in a Toyota kombi.
The police laid an ambush at all supermarkets in the city.
The accused ran out of luck when their two friends in crime were spotted by the police stealing from Nyaningwe Supermarket after which they led the police to a kombi that was parked just nearby.
The remaining 14 were waiting for their accomplices in the vehicle and police arrived, searched the vehicle and discovered groceries worth $250 before arresting them.
Insp Matake said indications were that the group had ransacked many supermarkets in the city but they were yet to establish the number of shops that fell victim to the syndicate.
“We suspect that there are many shops from which the syndicate executed its mission but we are yet to establish the identity of the enterprises affected. The entire group is in police custody assisting police with investigations with their vehicle having been impounded. They will appear in court soon,” said Insp Matake.
The arrested syndicate includes Pretty Zikhali (56), Loveness Ndlovu (21), Sibangilizwe Ndlovu (26), Sipho Mahlangu (39), Lucia Guramucheche (44), Themba Ndlovu (34), Sibongile Mathuthu (27) all from Old Pumula, Sunungurai Pedzisai (30) of Pumula South, Nomalanga Sibanda (25), Christabel Mpofu (31), Magwegwe North, Sekai Mavirire (32), Pumula South, Sitshengisiwe Ntebe (42), of Lobengula West, a juvenile aged 17, of James Court, Michael Sibanda (27), of Nkulumane and Bhekimpilo Nkala aged 19 from Pumula East, Bulawayo.
Online Reporter