News / Local
Armed gang terrorises Westgate, steals US$36,000
7 hrs ago |
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Residents of Westgate in Harare are living in renewed fear following a series of violent robberies, including a midnight raid in which a gang of 10 armed criminals stole more than US$36,000 from Chinese businesspeople.
The latest attack occurred on Monday along Acacia Drive, where the suspects, wearing black balaclavas and gloves, allegedly targeted several people, including Chinese nationals and security guards.
The gang was reportedly armed with two unidentified pistols, an axe and a hammer.
According to details of the incident, the robbers gained entry to a residential property by scaling a precast perimeter wall shortly before midnight.
Their first victims were a security guard and his wife, who were sleeping in their cabin when the intruders confronted them.
The suspects ordered the couple to lie down before tying them up with a dressing-gown belt.
They searched the cabin and stole US$20 that had been kept underneath a pillow.
The gang then forced the security guard to summon a colleague who was guarding a nearby property.
When the second guard arrived, he was immediately overpowered and ordered to surrender his shotgun and three rounds of ammunition.
The suspects handcuffed him before taking both guards and the woman to another property along Acacia Drive.
The three victims were forced to sit in a bamboo-covered area near the main entrance, where one of the robbers remained behind to guard them.
The remaining gang members proceeded to attack two Chinese nationals who were sitting inside a vehicle.
During the confrontation, the suspects allegedly seized US$28,000 before entering the nearby house and demanding additional money.
They also removed a closed-circuit television digital video recorder, apparently to prevent investigators from accessing footage of the attack.
The occupants of the house were tied up as the robbers continued searching the premises.
As the gang prepared to escape through the gate, they encountered another Chinese businessman, whom they attacked before stealing US$8,000.
The robbers subsequently fled, leaving their victims restrained and traumatised.
The incident was reported at Mabelreign Police Station under reference number RRB 7026178.
In a separate robbery reported in the same broader area, a Harare woman was abducted and robbed of her vehicle after two armed criminals invaded her home while she was sleeping with her four children.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2026, at approximately 11.30pm.
The woman was reportedly awakened by two intruders who had entered her bedroom through a door that was closed but not locked.
The suspects picked up a kitchen knife from the room and threatened her while demanding money.
Despite her pleas that she had no cash, the robbers searched the bedroom and seized her vehicle keys.
They then tied her hands and legs using a headscarf and an electrical cable before dragging her outside.
The criminals opened the boot of her Suzuki Solio, which she used for ride-hailing services, and forced her inside.
They drove away with the woman trapped in the vehicle's boot, ordering her to direct them to her employer's residence in Tynwald South.
Upon reaching the destination, the suspects abandoned her and escaped with the Suzuki Solio and her Samsung A76 mobile phone.
The matter was reported at Marlborough Police Station under reference number RRB 6898331.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment on the incidents.
The latest robberies have revived concerns among Westgate residents, who previously experienced a wave of violent criminal activity in the suburb.
Several months ago, repeated armed robberies prompted police to intensify night patrols and conduct community awareness campaigns.
Those interventions were followed by a decline in reported incidents, offering residents some relief.
However, the latest attacks have renewed anxiety over security in the area, particularly among households and businesses that may be targeted by organised criminal gangs.
The incidents also highlight the vulnerability of private security personnel, who were overpowered and disarmed during the Acacia Drive robbery.
The theft of a shotgun and ammunition raises additional concerns because the stolen weapon could potentially be used in further criminal activity.
Residents now face renewed uncertainty as they await information on the police response and whether the suspects responsible for the attacks will be apprehended.
No arrests had been confirmed in the information available at the time of reporting.
The latest attack occurred on Monday along Acacia Drive, where the suspects, wearing black balaclavas and gloves, allegedly targeted several people, including Chinese nationals and security guards.
The gang was reportedly armed with two unidentified pistols, an axe and a hammer.
According to details of the incident, the robbers gained entry to a residential property by scaling a precast perimeter wall shortly before midnight.
Their first victims were a security guard and his wife, who were sleeping in their cabin when the intruders confronted them.
The suspects ordered the couple to lie down before tying them up with a dressing-gown belt.
They searched the cabin and stole US$20 that had been kept underneath a pillow.
The gang then forced the security guard to summon a colleague who was guarding a nearby property.
When the second guard arrived, he was immediately overpowered and ordered to surrender his shotgun and three rounds of ammunition.
The suspects handcuffed him before taking both guards and the woman to another property along Acacia Drive.
The three victims were forced to sit in a bamboo-covered area near the main entrance, where one of the robbers remained behind to guard them.
The remaining gang members proceeded to attack two Chinese nationals who were sitting inside a vehicle.
During the confrontation, the suspects allegedly seized US$28,000 before entering the nearby house and demanding additional money.
They also removed a closed-circuit television digital video recorder, apparently to prevent investigators from accessing footage of the attack.
The occupants of the house were tied up as the robbers continued searching the premises.
As the gang prepared to escape through the gate, they encountered another Chinese businessman, whom they attacked before stealing US$8,000.
The robbers subsequently fled, leaving their victims restrained and traumatised.
The incident was reported at Mabelreign Police Station under reference number RRB 7026178.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2026, at approximately 11.30pm.
The woman was reportedly awakened by two intruders who had entered her bedroom through a door that was closed but not locked.
The suspects picked up a kitchen knife from the room and threatened her while demanding money.
Despite her pleas that she had no cash, the robbers searched the bedroom and seized her vehicle keys.
They then tied her hands and legs using a headscarf and an electrical cable before dragging her outside.
The criminals opened the boot of her Suzuki Solio, which she used for ride-hailing services, and forced her inside.
They drove away with the woman trapped in the vehicle's boot, ordering her to direct them to her employer's residence in Tynwald South.
Upon reaching the destination, the suspects abandoned her and escaped with the Suzuki Solio and her Samsung A76 mobile phone.
The matter was reported at Marlborough Police Station under reference number RRB 6898331.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi could not be reached for comment on the incidents.
The latest robberies have revived concerns among Westgate residents, who previously experienced a wave of violent criminal activity in the suburb.
Several months ago, repeated armed robberies prompted police to intensify night patrols and conduct community awareness campaigns.
Those interventions were followed by a decline in reported incidents, offering residents some relief.
However, the latest attacks have renewed anxiety over security in the area, particularly among households and businesses that may be targeted by organised criminal gangs.
The incidents also highlight the vulnerability of private security personnel, who were overpowered and disarmed during the Acacia Drive robbery.
The theft of a shotgun and ammunition raises additional concerns because the stolen weapon could potentially be used in further criminal activity.
Residents now face renewed uncertainty as they await information on the police response and whether the suspects responsible for the attacks will be apprehended.
No arrests had been confirmed in the information available at the time of reporting.
Source - H-Metro
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