News / Local
Robbers steal 200kg safe, cash
26 Jun 2014 at 07:16hrs | Views
A BULAWAYO businessman was left shaken after burglars broke into his butchery and got away with a safe deposit box weighing 200kg which contained only $1,500.
Robert Mlilo who runs Valley View Butchery at Entumbane said he was puzzled when he found his shop wide open on Monday morning.
"I was shocked thinking I had left the shop open, but I quickly remembered that I asked my workers to assist me lock it. I rushed inside to check whether anything had been stolen but nothing was amiss in the butchery; the meat and scales were all in," said Mlilo.
"I hurried to the safe room. The room had been broken into and the first thing which was missing was the DVD for the CCTV. I also checked for the safe. It had been stolen and had $1,070 and R900. It weighed over 200kg."
He said the thieves dismantled the screen door before they gained access.
The businessman added that it appeared as if the people who broke into his shop were organised and could have planned well in advance, before they struck.
"These people knew what they were doing. That safe is very heavy, they dragged it out. It seems they had a vehicle because there is no way they could have escaped with it without using a car," said Mlilo.
He said as a result of the burglary he was in serious debt.
"We get beasts from our creditors and we sell the meat for a little commission. These thieves might think that we have a lot of money but they are leaving us in debt," he said.
Mlilo said he was suspecting that the burglars knew how he ran his business as they broke at night before he deposited his day's proceeds at the bank.
"On Sundays we don't get a chance to go and bank I suspect these people knew about it and pounced. What's even confusing is that they only took the money as if they are saying I should continue working so that they can come again," said Mlilo.
He said he reported the matter at Entumbane Police Station.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo referred all questions to the national CID spokesperson Detective Inspector Portia Chino who said she could not comment as she was on leave.
Robert Mlilo who runs Valley View Butchery at Entumbane said he was puzzled when he found his shop wide open on Monday morning.
"I was shocked thinking I had left the shop open, but I quickly remembered that I asked my workers to assist me lock it. I rushed inside to check whether anything had been stolen but nothing was amiss in the butchery; the meat and scales were all in," said Mlilo.
"I hurried to the safe room. The room had been broken into and the first thing which was missing was the DVD for the CCTV. I also checked for the safe. It had been stolen and had $1,070 and R900. It weighed over 200kg."
He said the thieves dismantled the screen door before they gained access.
The businessman added that it appeared as if the people who broke into his shop were organised and could have planned well in advance, before they struck.
"These people knew what they were doing. That safe is very heavy, they dragged it out. It seems they had a vehicle because there is no way they could have escaped with it without using a car," said Mlilo.
He said as a result of the burglary he was in serious debt.
"We get beasts from our creditors and we sell the meat for a little commission. These thieves might think that we have a lot of money but they are leaving us in debt," he said.
Mlilo said he was suspecting that the burglars knew how he ran his business as they broke at night before he deposited his day's proceeds at the bank.
"On Sundays we don't get a chance to go and bank I suspect these people knew about it and pounced. What's even confusing is that they only took the money as if they are saying I should continue working so that they can come again," said Mlilo.
He said he reported the matter at Entumbane Police Station.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo referred all questions to the national CID spokesperson Detective Inspector Portia Chino who said she could not comment as she was on leave.
Source - chronicle
