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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
POLICE have arrested a 31-year-old suspected armed robber believed to be linked to a syndicate terrorising motorists along the Beitbridge-Harare highway.Simon Chinounye of Zaka District in Masvingo, was arrested on New Year’s Day after allegedly robbing a truck driver who had offered him a lift at Chivhu.
The suspect was found in possession of pellet gun, which he allegedly used in committing the offence. Acting Matabeleland South police spokesman Assistant Inspector Christopher Ngwenya said they arrested Chinounye, a few kilometres out of Beitbridge town at about 4pm.
“The suspect is now in police custody and is assisting us with investigations. He will soon appear in court facing armed robbery,” said Asst Insp Ngwenya.
He said Chinounye had boarded the haulage truck earlier in the day along with other four people who were travelling to Beitbridge.
“When they got to a rail level crossing, about 8km out of the border town, the suspect opened his bag and pulled out a pellet gun, which he pointed at the driver, ordering him to surrender all the valuables in his possession.
“He then ordered another male passenger to search everyone in the truck and surrender all the valuables to him. Chinounye took a total of R3,600, $210 and five cellphones,” he said.
Asst Insp Ngwenya said soon after committing the alleged offence, the suspect ordered the truck driver to pull off the road so that he could disembark.
He said in the process, the suspected armed robber failed to open the door resulting in the driver effecting a citizen’s arrest with the assistance of the other victims in the truck.
“Some motorists who were passing by noticed the fracas and joined in. They then teamed up to disarm Chinounye and later handed him over to the police where a further search was conducted resulting in the recovery of six more cellphones which had been stolen from different people,” said Asst Insp Ngwenya.
He urged motorists to avoid offering lifts to strangers to avoid the recurrence of such incidents. Asst Insp Ngwenya said police were involved in crime awareness campaigns along major roads leading to Bulawayo and Harare following an increase in highway robberies.
Online Reporter