Online Reporter
Nomalisa Gumpo
BULAWAYO police are investigating three separate armed robbery cases that occurred on Wednesday night at different locations in Bulawayo.
Bulawayo provincial deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Thandekile Ndlovu, confirmed the incidents, which all took place between 7PM and 9PM on Wednesday.
In the first case, reported around 7:15PM, a 34-year-old man from Nkulumane 12 was driving to Pumula South with his wife and sister. When he parked outside a house, two armed men emerged from the darkness.
“One of the accused persons fired a shot into the air while his colleague grabbed the complainant by the shirt and dragged him out of the vehicle,” Inspector Ndlovu said.
The victim’s wife and sister managed to get out of the vehicle, while the suspects sped off with the vehicle, which contained cash and personal belongings, all stolen items valued at US$7,030.
In the second incident, at around 8PM in the city centre, a 37-year-old man was attacked as he returned home from work, while unlocking his apartment door, two masked suspects pointed a pistol at him, forced him inside, tied his hands with shoelaces, stuffed socks into his mouth, and covered his face with a T-shirt.
“They ransacked the house and stole US$5,000 from a safe and two cellphones. The total value of property stolen is US$5,800, and nothing has been recovered,” Ndlovu said.
Later that night, at about 9PM, three armed men stormed a house in Hillside after overpowering a security guard at the gate. The suspects tied up both the guard and the homeowner before demanding cash. They searched the house and stole approximately US$6,000 from a wardrobe.
Assistant Inspector Ndlovu urged members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money in their homes and to bank their money to reduce the risk of loss.
“We appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the accused persons and recovery of the stolen motor vehicle to contact the nearest police station,” she said.
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