The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata-Senior Reporter
FIVE robbers who were armed with shotguns and pistols pounced on a Mutare service station on Sunday night and robbed it of US$10 000, while another four-member gang clad in police riot gear robbed an Odzi farmer of money and property on Tuesday night.
Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Luxson Chananda, confirmed the robberies.
The Flo Service Station robbery comes barely a month after Plyport Service Station adjacent to Sakubva Red Cross along Mutare-Chimanimani was robbed of US$5 850 in a midnight raid.
Insp Chananda said detectives were investigating the cases and no arrests have been made.
On Sunday night, the five-member gang pounced on Flo Petroleum Service Station in the Nyakamete Industrial Area.
The suspects — who were armed with a pistol, hammer and an iron bar — cut the security fence at the service station and gained entry.
While inside, they approached one of the guards, Mr Alfred Dheka who was outside manning the premises.
“They undressed him and took his pepper spray and panic button. The robbers tied his hands from the back using shoelaces and force-marched him to the other side of the service station where they bumped into two other guards.
“They force-marched the trio into an office where they manhandled two fuel attendants who were resting, waiting for clients,” said Insp Chananda.
While in the fuel attendants’ office, the robbers searched one of the attendants and took US$64 from his pockets that was meant for change. They searched the other fuel attendant and took US$140.
“During that time, one of the robbers used a dynamite to blast a safe which was in the office and stole US$4 272. Two of the robbers were left securing the complainants while the other three went to the accounts office where they used a hammer and iron bar to force-open doors which triggered the alarm system. They got into the office and used a dynamite to blast a safe and stole US$5 527 and disappeared. The Safeguard reaction team responded to the alarm, but the robbers had long left,” said Insp Chananda.
On Tuesday night, four robbers – two of them dressed in police attire – raided an Odzi farmer, Mr Merose Nyamutata’s plot.
It is alleged that the gang which was armed with a shotgun and two pistols approached the farmer in his kitchen.
One of the robbers who was armed with a pistol struck him once on the head and asked for the whereabouts of his farm workers.
“Mr Nyamutata told the robbers that the farm workers were asleep in their respective houses. They searched him and took two cellphones.
“They force-marched him to Mr Tawanda Mandiringa’s room where they manhandled him and took his cellphone. They then force-marched the two to Mr Hebson Manyonga’s room. They manhandled Mr Manyonga and robbed him of US$200 and three cellphones,” said Insp Chananda.
The three complainants were tied with shoelaces before being force-marched to Mr Kiran Soma’s residence where they also tied his hands at the back with dish towels.
They demanded money and valuables from him and were given US$850. The robbers were not satisfied with the amount and went on to assault him with the butt of the shotgun and a plank all over the body.
The robbers ransacked the house and took three cellphones.
“They also took a toy gun, two solar panels, an inverter and a wedding ring.
The suspects took car keys from the complainants and later escaped in Soma’s Honda Fit. They fired six shots as they drove off at high speed,” said Insp Chananda.
Ends.
