Online Reporter
Peter Matika, [email protected]
THREE armed robbers stormed Glow Petroleum Service Station along Khami Road in Bulawayo on Monday morning, making off with over US$31 000 and R3 725 in what police suspect to be an inside job.
The audacious robbery, which occurred around 10am, saw the assailants hold staff hostage before looting the office safe. The gang then hijacked a company vehicle used for cash collections, later abandoning it in a nearby bushy area.
National police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations suggest insider involvement.
“The robbers were dressed in work suits and armed with pistols. They held the service station crew hostage while they ransacked the office and stole the money. After taking the cash, they hijacked a company vehicle from an employee and fled the scene,” he said.
Following the heist, police recovered the stolen vehicle not far from the crime scene. Inside the glove compartment, officers discovered R69 500 believed to have been collected earlier from another branch.
Commissioner Nyathi warned that the rise in targeted robberies — particularly those involving cash-in-transit and high-volume cash businesses — is often linked to internal information leaks. He identified service stations, mines, supermarkets, and security companies as high-risk targets.
This robbery adds to a growing trend of armed attacks on fuel stations and cash-heavy businesses across the country. In recent years, criminals have increasingly targeted such establishments due to predictable cash handling routines and often inadequate internal security measures.
Commissioner Nyathi highlighted the role of human factors such as greed, complacency, and misplaced trust in
facilitating these crimes. He noted that while some employees knowingly participate, others may be unwittingly involved, unaware of the legal consequences of their actions.
He stressed that individuals who share financial or logistical details that aid criminals — whether knowingly or unknowingly — could face prosecution.
To curb such crimes, Commissioner Nyathi urged companies to strengthen internal controls.
“Security firms, in particular, must conduct thorough background checks. Employers should also consider rotating staff to prevent over-familiarity with systems and routines,” he said.
He further advised businesses to adopt both reactive and preventive security strategies, including unannounced reshuffles and staff audits.
“Routine reshuffles, background checks, and tighter protocols can deter potential collaborators and help safeguard assets,” he said.
The heist serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat posed by organised criminal gangs. Police have called on businesses to treat this incident as a wake-up call.
“When the stakes are high, so is the risk. We are confident these robbers will be apprehended, but in the meantime, every company handling cash must reassess its security culture,” said Commissioner Nyathi.
