News / Local
Robbers raid kombi crew, passengers in Cowdray Park
08 Jan 2016 at 05:40hrs | Views
ROBBERS that have allegedly been terrorising motorists in Bulawayo's Cowdray Park suburb struck again on Tuesday night robbing a kombi crew and passengers of cash and cellphones among other valuables.
The robbers are said to have taken 10 cellphones, two radios, an invertor, three radio speakers, a solar panel and five batteries.
The gang which was said to have been armed with axes, knives and knobkerries, allegedly threatened to kill their victims if they dared resist before robbing them.
The incident comes barely two week after an umalayitsha crew was attacked, robbed and had one of their female passengers gang raped by five suspects.
Sources yesterday said the gang dug a trench on the road that was officially closed linking Cowdray Park and Nyamandlovu road to trap motorists.
"After the kombi stopped as it could not proceed because of the trench, the robbers pounced.
"They demanded cash and took all the cellphones from the passengers and kombi crew," said the source.
He said after the raid the gang disappeared into the bush.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the robbery saying it was unfortunate that members of the public were not heeding their advice not to use the particular road as it was no longer officially in use.
She said before the robbery, police officers on patrol had warned the kombi crew against using the road.
"We deployed police officers in the area and they warned the kombi driver not to use the route but he sped away. Minutes later officers who were on patrol realised that the kombi was now stationery and approached it to investigate what the problem was," she said.
Insp Simango said when they arrived at the scene, the officers were told by the victims that they had been robbed.
She said police will start arresting motorists using the route saying they were now suspecting some of these drivers were working in cahoots with the robbers.
"We've issued several warnings on the dangers of using the same route but motorists have been defiant. We're now suspecting that some drivers are working with these robbers," she said.
Insp Simango called on residents to assist the police in fighting crime saying through cooperation from members of public, the gang could be easily arrested.
Two weeks ago, a couple from Cowdray Park suburb was robbed, kidnapped and the woman gang raped by three suspects who are still on the run.
The robbers are said to have taken 10 cellphones, two radios, an invertor, three radio speakers, a solar panel and five batteries.
The gang which was said to have been armed with axes, knives and knobkerries, allegedly threatened to kill their victims if they dared resist before robbing them.
The incident comes barely two week after an umalayitsha crew was attacked, robbed and had one of their female passengers gang raped by five suspects.
Sources yesterday said the gang dug a trench on the road that was officially closed linking Cowdray Park and Nyamandlovu road to trap motorists.
"After the kombi stopped as it could not proceed because of the trench, the robbers pounced.
"They demanded cash and took all the cellphones from the passengers and kombi crew," said the source.
He said after the raid the gang disappeared into the bush.
She said before the robbery, police officers on patrol had warned the kombi crew against using the road.
"We deployed police officers in the area and they warned the kombi driver not to use the route but he sped away. Minutes later officers who were on patrol realised that the kombi was now stationery and approached it to investigate what the problem was," she said.
Insp Simango said when they arrived at the scene, the officers were told by the victims that they had been robbed.
She said police will start arresting motorists using the route saying they were now suspecting some of these drivers were working in cahoots with the robbers.
"We've issued several warnings on the dangers of using the same route but motorists have been defiant. We're now suspecting that some drivers are working with these robbers," she said.
Insp Simango called on residents to assist the police in fighting crime saying through cooperation from members of public, the gang could be easily arrested.
Two weeks ago, a couple from Cowdray Park suburb was robbed, kidnapped and the woman gang raped by three suspects who are still on the run.
Source - chronicle
