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Arron Nyamayaro
THERE is growing suspicion that the armed robbery in which an engineering firm based in the Southerton Industrial area of Harare lost about US$51 000, was an inside job which could have involved some of its employees.
The bulk of the money, US$40 000, has since been recovered. Preliminary investigations at AMPS Engineering Company appear to indicate that this was an inside job.
The robbers left a safe, which was in the managing director’s office, and took one which was in the accountant’s office, which they believed had more money.
The company had not banked the money since last week and how the robbers knew about that appears to suggest some form of connivance with some of the employees.
The vehicle tracking system indicated that the stolen cash safe was dropped at an unidentified premise before the car was dumped.
Harare provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, said US$40 000 has since been recovered and investigations are continuing.
The suspected armed robbers appeared in court on Wednesday.
According to the State, the gang raided AMPS Engineering at number 379 Limpopo Way in Southerton. They were armed with a pistol, knives and iron bars.
They approached Boas Chitsvaira, a security guard who was in the guardroom, and fired one shot into the air ordering him to lie down.
They used his handcuffs to secure him and also tied his legs with a wire.
One of the robbers guarded him while the others manhandled Mafukeni Masaisai, a second security guard, who was in another guardroom.
They stole a safe, a DVR and an HP laptop from the front office and drove away in a company vehicle, which they later dumped in the CBD.
The gang was arrested after a tip-off was made to the police. Anesu Chirenje prosecuted.
Online Reporter