News / National
Man loses US$15 000 at knife-point
23 May 2012 at 05:28hrs | Views
A HARARE man lost US$15 000 cash to three armed men, who confronted him at knife-point, on Monday in Belvedere.
The man was in his vehicle intending to take the cash to the bank when the trio pounced at around 10.45am. One of the men, Jeremiah Zhanje (34), an ex-convict, has since been arrested in connection with the case.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau yesterday said two other suspects, Arthur Mangwende and Lucas Motsi, are still on the run.
He said the complainant took US$15 000 from the office for banking in the city centre.
"He got into the company car and a few minutes later he was confronted by the three robbers and one of them produced a knife ordering him to surrender the cash," he said.
Mangwende and Motsi grabbed the money and ran into their get-away vehicle a silver Toyota Corolla without registration number plates.
Insp Sabau said the complainant hit Zhanje with a stone and he fell to the ground while his accomplices sped off. Police were informed and they arrested Zhanje.
"Investigations carried out revealed that the three suspects were armed robbers who were recently released from prison," Insp Sabau said.
He said investigations were still in progress and anyone with information leading to the arrest of Mangwende and Motsi should contact CID Homicide at Harare Central Police Station.
Police have been urging people not to carry large amounts of money as they were likely to fall prey to robbers.
Insp Sabau also warned those driving vehicles without registration number plates that they should not cry foul when police impound them.
Most of these vehicles are used to commit crimes and it will be difficult for police to trace them.
Last month police impounded 600 unregistered and unroadworthy vehicles countrywide in two weeks to curb criminal activities and bring sanity on the roads.
Most of the unregistered vehicles were believed to be used in committing crimes. The vehicles, which were parked at police stations in Harare, would only released after the owners obtained the required documents.
The owners are urged to bring registration number plates, while others will pay fines before getting their vehicles back.
Most of the vehicles were impounded at roadblocks and during motorised patrols.
The man was in his vehicle intending to take the cash to the bank when the trio pounced at around 10.45am. One of the men, Jeremiah Zhanje (34), an ex-convict, has since been arrested in connection with the case.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau yesterday said two other suspects, Arthur Mangwende and Lucas Motsi, are still on the run.
He said the complainant took US$15 000 from the office for banking in the city centre.
"He got into the company car and a few minutes later he was confronted by the three robbers and one of them produced a knife ordering him to surrender the cash," he said.
Mangwende and Motsi grabbed the money and ran into their get-away vehicle a silver Toyota Corolla without registration number plates.
Insp Sabau said the complainant hit Zhanje with a stone and he fell to the ground while his accomplices sped off. Police were informed and they arrested Zhanje.
"Investigations carried out revealed that the three suspects were armed robbers who were recently released from prison," Insp Sabau said.
Police have been urging people not to carry large amounts of money as they were likely to fall prey to robbers.
Insp Sabau also warned those driving vehicles without registration number plates that they should not cry foul when police impound them.
Most of these vehicles are used to commit crimes and it will be difficult for police to trace them.
Last month police impounded 600 unregistered and unroadworthy vehicles countrywide in two weeks to curb criminal activities and bring sanity on the roads.
Most of the unregistered vehicles were believed to be used in committing crimes. The vehicles, which were parked at police stations in Harare, would only released after the owners obtained the required documents.
The owners are urged to bring registration number plates, while others will pay fines before getting their vehicles back.
Most of the vehicles were impounded at roadblocks and during motorised patrols.
Source - herald
