News / Local
Gun wielding robber lucky to be alive
26 Jul 2012 at 05:16hrs | Views
A man who had allegedly robbed an illegal foreign currency dealer of about R10 000 is lucky to be alive after the dealers gathered courage and apprehended him.
The forex dealers, who were joined by members of the public, then gave the man a thorough beating, the Chronicle reported.
The moneychangers, who operate near a Chicken Inn outlet opposite Tredgold Building, said the alleged robber approached one of them and produced a gun.
They said when the female money changer saw the pistol, she was paralysed with fear and the man took the chance to snatch wads of notes that amounted to R10 000 from her.
On realising that their colleague had been robbed, other forex dealers screamed and whistled. They then gave chase to the heavily built man and were later joined by members of the public.
The witnesses said the robber ran across 3rd Avenue and almost got hit by a taxi whose driver tried to stop him.
"A taxi driver tried to stop him but he pointed the gun at him. Fearing for his life, the driver drove off at high speed. The momentary stoppage allowed his pursuers to close the gap and a young man caught him," said another witness.
"At that time the angry mob vented its anger on him as it started beating him with fists. Others kicked him and some hit him with any object they could lay their hands on. Had it not been for the police who dispersed the crowd, he could have died on the spot. All the money was recovered."
Acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
"At the moment I am in Nkenyane and the information has not reached me. I cannot therefore confirm nor deny. I still need to get to the office," he said.
The forex dealers, who were joined by members of the public, then gave the man a thorough beating, the Chronicle reported.
The moneychangers, who operate near a Chicken Inn outlet opposite Tredgold Building, said the alleged robber approached one of them and produced a gun.
They said when the female money changer saw the pistol, she was paralysed with fear and the man took the chance to snatch wads of notes that amounted to R10 000 from her.
On realising that their colleague had been robbed, other forex dealers screamed and whistled. They then gave chase to the heavily built man and were later joined by members of the public.
The witnesses said the robber ran across 3rd Avenue and almost got hit by a taxi whose driver tried to stop him.
"A taxi driver tried to stop him but he pointed the gun at him. Fearing for his life, the driver drove off at high speed. The momentary stoppage allowed his pursuers to close the gap and a young man caught him," said another witness.
"At that time the angry mob vented its anger on him as it started beating him with fists. Others kicked him and some hit him with any object they could lay their hands on. Had it not been for the police who dispersed the crowd, he could have died on the spot. All the money was recovered."
Acting Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Bekimpilo Ndlovu could neither confirm nor deny the incident.
"At the moment I am in Nkenyane and the information has not reached me. I cannot therefore confirm nor deny. I still need to get to the office," he said.
Source - Byo24News
