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Surge in armed robberies worry Police

…as 5 cases reported in one night

EDWIN MOYO

GWERU- Police in the Midlands Province has expressed concern over a spate of armed robberies which took place over the festive season and at one time five cases were reported in one night.

Five armed robberies happened in a similar fashion where the accused opened houses while occupants were asleep.

They awakened them and forced them to surrender valuables as they threatened them with death.

In Mberengwa, eight unknown accused men went to a room behind a shop at Madozvo Business Centre where two female complainants identified as Beauty (57) and Castina (23) were asleep in the room.

They were awakened by the sound of eight men who were trying to open the door. After failing to open the door, they forced open a window and pointed a pistol at the complainants demanding money and cellphones.

 The two females surrendered USD$110, R1 700 and a cellphone. The robbery occurred at around 2am Unity Day.

In another incident the complainant, Funwell Maphosa ( 43) was asleep in his bedroom at Mandindi Stands Sino, Lalapanzi at about 0022hrs, when four men forced his bedroom door open using an axe.

They entered the bedroom, struck the complainant’s hand using a machete and demanded cash. They went on to ransack the room and took away his cellphone.

In another incident, Gift Banda (25) years was asleep in a one roomed house at Beacon Kopje, Chikwingwizha area, Shurugwi when five men forced open his door. One of the five intruders was identified as Crispen Mhiripiri.

The five entered and hit the complainant on the head using a log and stabbed him on the thigh. They demanded valuables and Banda surrendered US$300 cash and a cellphone and the intruders left.

In Lalapanzi at around midnight, three men went to Mandindi Mine, Mahamara Compound 22. They approached two tents where some people were sleeping.

In the first tent there were two females, Patience Sibanda (36) and Thubelihle Ndlovu (17).

 The three men produced machetes and a hammer and assaulted the two ladies demanding valuables. The ladies surrendered US$300 cash and two cellphones. The three men went to the second tent where Memory Maringawu (34) was sleeping and struck her with a machete. She handed them US$100.

One of the robbers raped one of the complainants before leaving the place.

At around 2am the same day in Kwekwe three unknown men pounced at a house in Mbizvo 14 Suburb, where the complainant, Tangai Chihava (46) was asleep.

The robbers used a bolt cutter to break a paddock and gained entry into the house. They ransacked it and stole cellphones, they tried to open Chihava’s bedroom and failed.

Chihava then scared them away by firing shots from his gun and the suspects fired back, but nevertheless ended up running away.

Midlands Provincial Police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed these incidents and called for the establishment of neighborhood patrol groups to assist in fighting crime.

“In view of the emergency of criminals who operate in this way of robbing people in residences, we reiterate the need for communities to establish neighborhood patrol groups.

“This should be coupled with establishment of effective communication methods where patrol groups or neighbours can be alerted when there are intruders in anyone of their homesteads concerned 

“Police are appealing for information regarding the suspects whereabouts as they are still at large” he added.

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