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Conrad Mupesa and Freeman Razemba
ARMED with explosives, machetes and clad in balaclavas, a seven-member gang pounced on Eureka Junior School in Banket around 2am on Tuesday, the second such raid in two years.
Scores of parents who thronged the school the previous day to pay fees led the robbers to believe that there was a substantial amount of cash stashed at the school.
Fortunately, the school had heeded calls from the police and Government for institutions to desist from keeping large amounts of cash at their premises.
It ended up being a frustrating episode for the robbers who only got away with a limited amount of cash and groceries.
After confronting a security guard, Mr Nelson Newera, the gang broke into the strong room where the school keeps examination papers hoping to find money.
Using explosives, they blew open a safe only to find US$80, according to the school’s administrator, Mr Wilson Kambanje.
A laptop valued at US$400 which was also in the safe was destroyed in the blast which shattered several windows.
“We believe this is the same gang that tried to rob us of money in 2022, but failed,” he said.
In the first attempt, the gang tried to open the safe but failed.
“We believe that after failing during the first attempt, they came back this time prepared with enough explosives to blow the safes.
“After the first attempt, we became cautious and we now always take money to the bank. We are now encouraging parents to deposit money into the school’s bank account,” said Mr Kambanje.
After realising that the two safes had no money, the robbers broke into the boardroom where some groceries that had been delivered by parents the previous day were being stored.
“The robbers then handpicked selected items including cooking oil, instant porridges, rice and mealie meal valued around US$500. These were intended for boarders’ use for the term,” he added.
According to the police, at around 3am, the robbers proceeded to a house in Banket’s Kuwadzana township belonging to one of the teachers where they forced their way into her bedroom.
Police said the robbers were armed with a rifle, two knives and a pistol and demanded cash from the female teacher whose hands they tied with shoelaces before assaulting her with a rifle butt. She handed over US$1 600.
The robbers then entered a room where another complainant was sleeping and tied his hands with ropes and threatened to kill him while demanding more cash and valuables.
They stole various groceries, a Samsung TV set, an Acer laptop, an Open View decoder, and a white SDX Mazda Double Cab (AAX 8072) into which they loaded the goods before escaping with the vehicle.
National Deputy police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Blessmore Chishaka confirmed the raids saying investigations were in progress.
Online Reporter