$15 000 robbery at Bulawayo Bon Marche

Audacious thieves pounced on Bon Marche supermarket in Parklands and snatched more than $15 000.

The thieves could have committed the perfect crime as they left no tangible clues in the break-in occurred that occurred at about 3am.

Baffled detectives could only point to a hole in the roof, that the thieves are suspected to have used in getting into the supermarket and escaping.

The supermarket opened late on Monday as workers and detectives battled to figure out how the robbery was carried out.

Sources told Bulawayo24 News the robbers seemed to have inside information as they went straight to where the cash was kept and took it.

"Management suspects foul play because the crime is just too perfect.  These people seemed to know how to avoid the CCTV cameras and they knew how to avoid detection by the security guards manning the complex. They also bypassed the burglar alarm and left no clue," said a worker.

A comment could not be obtained from Bon Marche as managers Referred questions to their headquarters in Harare.

The country is fast becoming a favourite hunting ground for robbers with businesses and individuals losing thousands of dollars to thieves in recent months.

Statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) indicate that armed robbery and plain robbery cases are on the increase in the country.

In the first six months of this year, 355 armed robbery and 3,772 robbery cases were recorded countrywide up from 265 armed robberies and 3, 474 robbery cases reported within the same period last year.

In one of the reported armed robbery cases, a three-member gang pounced on Agribank Maphisa branch, Matabeleland South at the beginning of this month and stole more than $30, 000 in cash at gun-point.