Robbers strike at United Refineries

Armed robbers executed a daring break-in at United Refineries, located in the Kelvin Industrial Area of Bulawayo, early on Friday morning, making off with over US$10,000 and more than 20,000 South African rand.

The robbery, which occurred around 1:30 am on December 6, 2024, saw the intruders gain access to the company's administration offices, where they disabled security measures, immobilized the security personnel, and meticulously carried out the heist.

According to a statement from the company, the robbers used precision tools to breach the strong rooms and safes, stealing a total of US$11,069, ZAR20,481, and BWP80. The intruders also managed to disable the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, making it harder for investigators to gather evidence of the crime.

"The company regrets to advise that on the morning of 6 December 2024 at around 1.30am, armed intruders broke into the company's administration offices at Kelvin Industrial Area in Bulawayo," the statement read. "The intruders bound and immobilised independent security personnel, breached CCTV equipment, and using precision cutting tools accessed the company's strong rooms and safes and stole the following amounts: US$11,069, ZAR20,481, and BWP80."

Following the robbery, the company has reported the incident to the police, and investigations are currently underway. In light of the disruption caused by the heist, United Refineries assured its stakeholders that efforts are being made to resume normal business operations. The company anticipates that business will return to normal by Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

The robbery comes amid a concerning rise in armed heists in Bulawayo, with the city experiencing an alarming spike in criminal activity in recent months. According to police statistics, the number of armed robberies has significantly increased, causing growing anxiety among residents and local law enforcement.

In October 2024, the city recorded 13 armed robberies, a sharp rise from just two cases reported in the same month the previous year.

In response to the surge in criminal activity, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has intensified efforts to combat organized crime syndicates responsible for these robberies. Police are actively investigating these incidents and are working to bring the perpetrators to justice.

As authorities investigate the United Refineries heist, the community remains on edge, with residents calling for increased security measures to curb the rising crime wave in the city.