Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A DEVASTATING burglary has shaken a Zimunya family to its core after thieves swooped on their house in the early hours of last Friday morning, making off with a staggering haul of over US$4 000 and R20 000 in cash.
In a shocking twist, the theft occurred while the woman of the house, Precious Dombwe, was in the toilet, barely four metres from the bedroom, for an unbelievable 45 minutes, unaware of the intruders ransacking her house.
The brazen heist happened in Zimunya Township, on the outskirts of Mutare, while the husband was away attending an all-night prayer vigil, leaving his family vulnerable to the thieves.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident.
He said Joseph Nyakutombwa (35), who is self-employed, had been saving the money to support his business of transporting construction materials using his Nissan truck.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka said Nyakutombwa had stored the cash in a safe box under his bed, and on the evening of the incident, he left home around 6pm to attend a church all-night prayer, leaving his wife, Precious Dombwe (30), and their children, including their 11-year-old eldest daughter, asleep.
The theft occurred when Dombwe woke up around 3am to use the toilet due to stomach discomfort – and spent about 45 minutes in the toilet, and upon returning to the bedroom, she noticed a bright light and became suspicious.
“Joseph Nyakutombwa (35), who owns a Nissan truck which he uses to transport construction materials, had been saving the money for his business.
“He kept the cash in a safe box under the bed,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka, adding that Nyakutombwa had left home around 6pm to attend a church all-night prayer on the evening in question.
“At around 3am, Dombwe woke up with stomach discomfort and went to the toilet. She alleges that she spent about 45 minutes in the toilet. Upon returning to the bedroom, she noticed a bright light coming from the bedroom and became suspicious,” said Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
Panicking, Dombwe rushed to the bedroom, only to find clothes scattered all over the floor and wardrobe doors wide open.
A quick check under the bed revealed that the cash box was missing.
She immediately alerted her husband, who swiftly rushed home.
A report was subsequently filed at ZRP Zimunya Post.
Upon attending the scene, police confirmed that the property had been thoroughly ransacked.
However, in a surprising twist, the cash box was later discovered abandoned in a kitchen sink outside the house, emptied of all its contents.
In an even more bizarre discovery, a non-functioning Hisense cellphone, positively identified by Nyakutombwa as his own, was found placed atop the incomplete perimeter wall surrounding the yard.
“There were no signs of forced entry at the house. The kitchen window was secured by wire, and the door was locked from the inside. The bedroom, which had been searched, is about four meters from the toilet,” explained Assistant Inspector Chinyoka.
He said no arrests have been made so far, and appealed to anyone with information that may assist in the investigations to come forward.
“We appealed to anyone with information to come forward. Investigations are currently underway and the case has since been referred to CID Mutare,” he said.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka urged members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money at home and to improve household security, especially during their absence.
“As police, we continue to urge the public to make use of formal banking institutions to store their money safely. We also advise people to ensure their premises are adequately secured and to be wary of leaving homes unattended for long periods, especially at night,” he warned.
