Police smash 8-member shoplifting syndicate

The group, whose members include four women, three men and a juvenile, were arrested in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North on Sunday last week.
The group travelled around the region in a white 16-seater Toyota Hiace that they would allegedly fill with stolen                goods.
Police recovered groceries, cosmetics and clothes which they allegedly stole from at least seven shops at Tsholotsho business Centre, valued at $3 500 from the kombi which was hidden in a bush.
The group allegedly admitted to wreaking havoc in popular Bulawayo supermarkets that include, Spar outlets, Tasha’s, Buscod and AfroFoods. They would allegedly go into shops and supermarkets, spread out and the women would distract security guards, while other members of the gang looted goods from the outlets.
Police identified the eight people as Albert Mhike (27) of 70 Section 7 Mtapa in Gweru, Dorcas Nkomo (30) of 1340 Pumula South, Siphiso Sibanda (21) who resides at A5597 Old Pumula, Doreen Nkomo (30) of 2024/2 Pumula South, Nyaradzai Maphosa of 1162 Nkulumane 11, Owen Limako (31) also of 1162 Nkulumane 11, Lovemore Muvimba (34) of A6234 old Pumula and a 17-year-old boy from the peri-urban Methodist village on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North, Assistant Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the arrests of members of the syndicate yesterday.
“Acting on a tip-off, police deployed officers to monitor the activities of the group.
“They had hidden their vehicle, whose registration number is AAB 3658, in a bush and they would take whatever they stole to the car,” said Asst Insp Makonese.
She said goods stolen from various outlets at Tsholotsho Business Centre were recovered from the vehicle following their arrests.
“When police pounced, all eight people were arrested. Recovered goods included $1 349 worth of groceries stolen from Eagles Enterprises, clothes worth $100 from Boiteka Boutique and goods valued at $1760 that the gang stole from Thuthuka shop,” she said.
She issued a strong warning to criminals who                         committed or planned to commit crimes in Matabeleland           North.
“The police, especially in Matabeleland North, will stop at nothing to bring criminals to justice. Those who take it into their heads to commit crimes in the province will only have themselves to blame when the long arm of the law inevitably descends on them,” said Asst Insp Makonese.
She thanked members of the public who tipped off police about the crime.
“We are solving more crimes and putting more criminals behind bars mainly because of the input from the members of the public. We encourage others to emulate those who give information to the police,” she said.
Meanwhile, the eight appeared in court on Friday.  The juvenile was slapped with a wholly suspended 18 month sentence, on the condition that he does not commit a crime involving dishonesty within the next five years.
The women, Dorcas, Doreen, Siphiso and Nyaradzai were sentenced to 36 months in prison, of which twelve were conditionally suspended.
The three men in the group, Abel, Owen and Lovemore pleaded not guilty and were remanded in custody to today.
Last week, police arrested a 16-member shop lifting                  syndicate in Masvingo, who also used a kombi during their looting spree.
The group, from Bulawayo, was dominated by women.