News / Local
Armed robber unleashes terror in Beitbridge
31 Aug 2021 at 01:08hrs | Views
POLICE in Beitbridge are pursuing Bigboy Chauke of Mugwazhuli area near Tshapfutshe area who is believed to be the mastermind of a series of armed robberies that have rocked the district in the last four weeks.
The man is believed to have in some instances hired out his guns to other criminals who target businessmen and motorists along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway as well as smugglers crossing the Limpopo River.
The officer commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they were worried about a recent surge in armed robberies especially around Beitbridge East. He said Chauke has been linked to many robbery cases reported around Tshapfutshe, Matshiloni, Lutumba and other villages along the Beitbridge- Masvingo highway.
"We have intensified investigations into these armed robberies that are all linked to Bigboy Chauke of Mugwazhuli area," said Chief Supt Nyongo.
He appealed to members of the public who might have information leading to the arrest of Chauke and his accomplices to contact any nearest police station.
Chief Supt Nyongo said the suspects arrested so far have all implicated Chauke who they say is the ring leader. He said the latest armed robbery cases occurred in Tshapfutshe and Matshiloni between Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday four gunmen pounced on a woman in Tshapfuche and stole R13 000 and US$40 and went away.
"One suspect was arrested by police detectives who were investigating a previous case in the area," said Chief Supt Nyongo.
He said on Sunday in Matshiloni, some 40km north of Beitbridge town along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway, another person was robbed of US$3 500 and R500 at gunpoint.
The person was on his way to buy a vehicle in Masvingo. It is also believed that Chauke could be linked to another case which occurred on August 16 in Tshapfutshe where four gunmen tied a businessman together with his two daughters and stole R9 000 and two cellphones worth R6 300.
The four masked men were allegedly armed with two pistols and two machetes when they attacked Mr Katazo Moyo, who runs several grocery shops around Beitbridge district.
The man is believed to have in some instances hired out his guns to other criminals who target businessmen and motorists along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway as well as smugglers crossing the Limpopo River.
The officer commanding Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Tichaona Nyongo said they were worried about a recent surge in armed robberies especially around Beitbridge East. He said Chauke has been linked to many robbery cases reported around Tshapfutshe, Matshiloni, Lutumba and other villages along the Beitbridge- Masvingo highway.
"We have intensified investigations into these armed robberies that are all linked to Bigboy Chauke of Mugwazhuli area," said Chief Supt Nyongo.
He appealed to members of the public who might have information leading to the arrest of Chauke and his accomplices to contact any nearest police station.
Chief Supt Nyongo said the suspects arrested so far have all implicated Chauke who they say is the ring leader. He said the latest armed robbery cases occurred in Tshapfutshe and Matshiloni between Saturday and Sunday.
"One suspect was arrested by police detectives who were investigating a previous case in the area," said Chief Supt Nyongo.
He said on Sunday in Matshiloni, some 40km north of Beitbridge town along the Beitbridge-Masvingo highway, another person was robbed of US$3 500 and R500 at gunpoint.
The person was on his way to buy a vehicle in Masvingo. It is also believed that Chauke could be linked to another case which occurred on August 16 in Tshapfutshe where four gunmen tied a businessman together with his two daughters and stole R9 000 and two cellphones worth R6 300.
The four masked men were allegedly armed with two pistols and two machetes when they attacked Mr Katazo Moyo, who runs several grocery shops around Beitbridge district.
Source - chronicle
