Fleeing robbers crushed to death, stole $80 and a Nokia 1100

Two fleeing suspected thieves were crushed to death by a haulage truck after stealing a cell-phone and cash from a widow in the Rippling Waters small-scale farming area in Masvingo.

The unidentified thieves were trying to cross the Masvingo-Mutare highway with villagers in hot pursuit.

They had allegedly stolen a 1100 Nokia cellphone, $80 cash and some chickens from the widow.

Masvingo police spokesman Inspector Tineyi Matake yesterday confirmed the incident. He said the two had their heads and feet crushed by the truck travelling towards Masvingo.

Insp Matake said their bodies were taken to Masvingo General Hospital mortuary while efforts to locate their relatives continue.

"The suspected thieves were fleeing from villagers after they had stolen from a woman but they were hit by the truck and died on the spot," he said.

The thieves allegedly armed themselves with an Okapi knife and went to the Rippling Waters resettlement area where they robbed the widow of her goods.

The woman raised alarm and fellow villagers grouped to confront the suspects. The thieves reportedly tried to cross in front of the on-coming truck to evade capture.