Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent
THREE men appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday facing armed robbery charges after allegedly breaking into a house in The Grange suburb and stealing cash and valuables worth nearly US$5 000.
Never Malata (47), Tobias Malata (26) and Thomas Matirosi Tsongora (55) appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Jesse Kufa.
They were remanded in custody to July 8 pending further proceedings.
Prosecutor Mr Lawrence Gangarahwe alleged that the accused, acting in connivance with accomplices still at large, hatched a plan to rob the complainant.
The court heard that on June 5, at about 11.15pm, the trio allegedly proceeded to a house at Number 309 Stallham Road in The Grange, armed with an unidentified firearm.
Upon arrival, they allegedly tampered with the electric motor controlling the main gate before partially opening it and gaining entry into the property.
Once inside the yard, the accused allegedly vandalised the aluminium door locking system and entered the house.
During the break-in, they were allegedly spotted by the complainant, Mr Tafadzwa Mnangagwa, and other occupants of the house, who fled through a back door and alerted the police.
Police attended the scene, but the suspects had already fled.
The complainant later discovered that two bedrooms had been ransacked and that US$3 800 in cash and Apple AirPods valued at US$880 had been stolen from his bedroom.
On June 9, the complainant allegedly tracked the location of the stolen AirPods and alerted police.
Detectives followed up on the information, leading to the arrest of the three accused persons.
The total value of the stolen property and damage caused during the robbery is estimated at US$4 930.
Property worth US$880, comprising the recovered AirPods, has since been recovered.
