Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A GANG of armed robbers who had been terrorising residents in Waterfalls and the surrounding areas ran out of luck and its members were arrested as they were about to stage their fifth robbery in the area.
Douglas Mutenda, Takudzwa Nheta, Zephania Munyuki, Jephat Muganhu and Allen Musarurwa appeared before magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa yesterday facing four counts of armed robbery.
They were not asked to plead and were remanded in custody until March 18.
The court heard that on November 25, last year, the gang and their accomplices, who are still at large, broke into Archibald Ndumiso Toma’s Prospect home.
They were armed with a pistol and were putting on balaclavas.
They approached Toma, who was asleep, and tied his limbs with a rope while demanding cash from his Proven Wholesale shop.
Toma told the robbers that the money was kept in his parents’ bedroom and they forced him to the bedroom where they took US$2 845 and R360 from the headboard of the bed.
They also stole Samsung cell phones – S22 Ultra, A32 and AF13 – and disappeared from the scene.
Toma later discovered that the robbers first poisoned his five dogs which he found dead.
The second complainant is Princess Nyaruta of Epworth and the court heard that on December 20 last year, the gang struck again, and broke into Nyaruta’s home.
One of the robbers ordered her to sit on the bed and slapped her once while demanding cash and other valuables.
They went on to tie her limbs before ransacking the house.
One of the robbers threatened to rape her if she refused to comply with their demands.
However, another hang member told his colleague he could not do that.
She discovered that they had stolen groceries, a 48 volts lithium battery, 10 dressed chickens, a 5kg cadac gas tank, 60 metre electric cable and a blue adaptor.
In the third count, the court heard that the gang broke into Evans Chapu’s workplace in Msasa on February 15.
The court heard that the gang went to Maswera Energies while armed with a pistol, knives, iron bars, bolt cutters and putting on balaclavas.
They allegedly manhandled Chapu, tied his hands behind his back and legs using shoe laces.
They went on to break the office doors with an iron bar.
They stole US$64, which was in a drawer, a blue welding machine, a total grinder, total drilling machine, a drilling machine, three work suits branded Maswera energies, various batteries, solar panels and tools all valued at US$2000.
In the fourth count, it is alleged that the gang robbed Reinmore Chihera at Queen of Peace Clinic in Hatfield on February 22.
They stole property worth US$500.
On February 27, police received information that a robbery was in progress in Waterfalls and acted on the tip off.
They pounced on the robbers before they had accomplished their mission.
Tambudzai Musamvi appeared for the State.
