Online Reporter
Amos Mpofu, Online Reporter
A family from Bulawayo’s Hillcrest suburb was left devastated on Friday evening after losing savings amounting to US$11 780 and ZAR4 500 to three armed robbers who broke into their home.
Bulawayo provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, confirmed the incident, saying police have since launched investigations.
“Police are investigating a case of armed robbery which occurred at Leicester Avenue, Hillcrest, Bulawayo, on 25 October 2025 at around 8.20PM,” said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
According to a police report, the complainant — a 35-year-old woman — was at home with her six children when the robbers struck.
The children were in the sitting room while their mother was resting in her bedroom when three unknown men, armed with a pistol and an okapi knife, forced their way into the house.
The robbers first confronted the children, demanding their mobile phones, before two of them proceeded to the bedroom where the woman was sleeping.
“The accused persons woke her up and instructed her not to make any noise. They pointed a pistol at her neck, tied her hands and demanded cash,” said Asst Insp Ndlovu.
The robbers took US$200 from under a laptop, US$140 and ZAR4 500 from a drawer, and US$60 from her purse. They then demanded the keys to a safe, from which they stole an additional US$11 380.
One of the suspects grabbed the keys to the family’s Audi vehicle before the trio escaped by jumping over the durawall and driving away.
Fortunately, no one in the house was injured during the ordeal.
Asst Insp Ndlovu appealed to members of the public with any information that could assist in apprehending the suspects to report to their nearest police station or contact Hillside Police Station on 244422 or Bulawayo Operations on 2883930 / 273547.
She also urged residents to prioritise the safety of their savings by using formal banking channels.
“We encourage members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money at home and to rather bank their money,” she said.
Despite ongoing police efforts to curb armed robberies nationwide, such incidents remain a concern, with at least one case reported weekly across the country.
