Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE in Beitbridge have arrested six suspected armed robbers linked to eight cases committed in the district between April and September, while also rescuing a girl who was kidnapped during a robbery.
Police also recovered a Jaguar that was stolen at gunpoint in Beitbridge on Sunday morning after the suspect driving the vehicle was involved in an accident in Zvishavane.
The suspect, however, fled from the scene and remains at large.
The Jaguar was taken to Zvishavane Police Station for safekeeping pending its return to Beitbridge.
The latest developments come as police intensify their investigations into a series of armed robberies that have rocked the border town.
Acting Officer Commanding Beitbridge District, Superintendent Philisani Ndebele, said yesterday that the six suspects were assisting police with investigations into the eight cases.
“The arrest of the six accused persons is already on record; we arrested six accused persons, and they are also assisting us to clear about eight cases here, which occurred between April and September,” said Supt Ndebele.
“So that is very positive, that is a very positive move, and we promise that we are going to continue to work tirelessly.”
He said police were also following leads into the latest robberies committed between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
“We have some positive information about the robberies which occurred on Saturday night, coming into Sunday morning,” said Supt Ndebele.
“There is some information which we are following, and it is positive. We promised the community that very soon they were going to receive good news about that.”
Supt Ndebele said the suspect wanted in connection with the Jaguar robbery had not yet been arrested.
“I want to update you on the theft of the motor vehicle which occurred on Sunday morning,” he said.
“That vehicle was recovered in Zvishavane, although it was involved in an accident, and there is some positive information that we are following up on.”
Meanwhile, the girl who was kidnapped during a robbery in New Medium Density has been reunited with her family.
Supt Ndebele urged residents to avoid keeping large amounts of cash at home and warned against advertising financial plans on social media.
“People must not keep large sums of money at home. They must not post on their status that they have plans to do with money,” he said.
He also warned illegal foreign currency dealers against displaying large amounts of cash in public, saying this could make them targets for criminals.
“We also appeal to illegal foreign currency dealers to stop that business of flashing money on the streets, which makes them targets of criminals,” he said.
“We have noted that these are being attacked at their homes at night and hence we call for responsible behaviour from people in possession of large amounts of hard cash.”
Supt Ndebele also urged pirate taxi operators to remain vigilant when dealing with suspicious passengers and to report unusual behaviour to police.
He said police would intensify night patrols and monitor unnecessary movements at night as part of efforts to prevent further robberies.
Residents were urged to provide information that could assist police in making further arrests.
