Vusumuzi Dube
- Bruce Ndlovu and Panashe Marijeni
POLICE suspect that the armed robbers that executed a brazen heist at the Eco Bank Parkade Centre Branch in Bulawayo this afternoon had inside information, which allowed them to carry out a dramatic robbery that saw cash in the region of $5milion stolen from the financial institution.
The late afternoon heist brought life to a standstill at the corner of Fife Street and 9th Avenue, as onlookers were taken by surprise at the sight of the armed robbers cradling automatic weapons loading heavy cash boxes into their van.
Videos of the armed robbery were already circulating on Thursday afternoon, as the city came to grips with a heist that played out on one of the busiest streets in Bulawayo.
Vendors and shop owners were left shell-shocked by the sight of heavyset men who reportedly muscled their way around the bank’s entrance and nonchalantly loaded their loot in their car.
According to an eye witness who spoke to Sunday News, the armed robbers reportedly disarmed a group of five Safeguard Security guards before taking the safe boxes.
The armed robbers allegedly entered the bank during a weekly cash transit which is said to happen om random days. The armed gang are said to have taken three AK47 firearms that belonged to the guard. While four of the five armed robbers are said to have been wearing balaclavas except, one of them did not wear a disguise and at some point acted like a member of the public during the earlier stages of the heist. That same individual would be later seen helping to carry the boxes into the getaway vehicle before the robbers fled the scene.
The armed gang is said to be moving in a white Ford Ranger T6 single cab. A source claimed that the number plate belonged to a Mazda Demio. There were no active shootings or casualties during the heist which unfolded over several minutes.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said that police suspected that the robbers had inside information before executing their heist.
“We can confirm that there was a robbery at a financial institution along 9th Avenue and Fife Street in Bulawayo this afternoon. We are currently attended to the report but it appears there is an element of inside information leaking. Initial reports suggest that there were six armed robbers but more information will be revealed in due time,” he said.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu