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Crime Reporter
An alarming surge in armed robbery cases targeting security companies has prompted authorities to investigate potential collusion between security personnel, bank officials, and criminal elements.
Law enforcement officials have suggested that many of these cases involve insiders, with security guards and bank officials suspected to be providing crucial information to criminals on cash movements.
An ominous 11 percent surge in robberies, has sounded the alarm for Zimbabwe’s police force to devise and implement effective strategies to combat crime and engender public trust.
According to police reports, recent heists have resulted in significant financial losses, with over US$52 500 stolen from a cash-in-transit vehicle and a company in two separate incidents this week.
The incidents occurred between October 15 and 16, in Bulawayo and Masvingo.
On Wednesday in Masvingo, US$20 000 was stolen from a cash-in-transit vehicle belonging to a private security company.
The vehicle was transporting cash from Beitbridge to Mutare, and curiously, the crew offered a lift to two unknown passengers at Lutumba Service Centre and Machiloni, Beitbridge.
The passengers were later dropped off, and on arrival at Ngundu, the crew discovered that a locked metal cash box containing the cash was missing.
In another case of robbery which occurred on Tuesday in Belmont, Bulawayo, US$32 500 and R300 cash was stolen after seven robbers who were armed with pistols and a pick, stormed a steel company. The robbers tied two security guards and 12 workers, who were on duty, with shoelaces.
One of the workers was struck on the head with a pick after attempting to escape. The suspects confiscated valuables and cellphones, before stealing cash.
Barely a week after the incident, a daring robbery shook Zimbabwe’s financial sector, with six criminals making off with US$4,4 million from a cash-in-transit vehicle in Bulawayo. Police are adamant that the robbery involved insiders.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they were still investigating all these cases, and no arrests have been made yet.
“The Bulawayo bank robbery is one of the largest amounts ever to be stolen. We are however still checking with our records (on large amounts robbed so far). Remember we also have the US$2,7 million ZB bank heist.
“It is clear that this thing was well planned and it was an inside job on the part of the bank officials and the security guards. We will leave no stone unturned in conducting investigations and we will arrest irrespective of the status and identity of the suspects,” he said.
He urged people to desist from keeping large amounts of cash at their homes and business premises as well as tightening security.
But despite repeated warnings, robbers seem to have a crystal ball where they peek and pick their targets. Impossible.
“As police we strongly believe that most of these cases are inside jobs in which criminals are being supplied with information about cash movements,” he said.
He added that some of the security guards, company and bank officials were behind the spate of robberies.
Many queries, how would robbers target companies or vehicles carrying huge amounts of money unless insiders are involved?
In 2021, robbers pounced on a cash-in-transit team along the Harare-Chirundu highway and got away with US$2,7 million.
Investigations later revealed that a bank employee was involved. He and his accomplices were later arrested and jailed after police established that he masterminded the robbery.
The robbers made off with the cash in a dramatic fashion after they had reportedly been offered a lift by a security company cash-in-transit vehicle.
Police said the cash-in-transit team, which was travelling in a Toyota Hilux, picked up six male passengers at Westgate and Inkomo turn-off.
The cash was stashed in seven boxes.
On approaching Gwebi River Bridge lay-by, the driver stopped the vehicle after one of his colleagues asked to empty his bowels.
As soon as the car stopped, one of the passengers allegedly produced a pistol and fired a shot into the air while his accomplices disarmed one of the security guards of his 303 rifle.
Early this week, while addressing the 2024 ZRP Senior Officers’ Conference in Harare, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe said it was disheartening to note that the conference had come at a time when the organisation has not been successful in meeting some of its set targets.
“The performance indicators for the organisation on the Whole of Government Performance Management System show that some areas need attention. The Ministry has continued to receive numerous calls where concern has been raised regarding the state of policing in the country.
“The rise in general crime and particularly the fear of crime in various parts of the country keeps citizens apprehensive hence questions have continued to be posed seeking to find out what the police is doing. I therefore urge you to take advantage of platforms such as these to formulate concrete policing interventions.
“Furthermore, the monthly reports received from the Zimbabwe Republic Police indicated that during the periods January to August 2023 and January to August 2024 crime rose by 11 percent while traffic accidents increased by six percent with a total of 1 352 people losing their lives. Surely, we cannot afford to continue losing precious lives due to avoidable road carnage nor can we permit our country to devolve into a crime haven,” he said.
Online Reporter