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Armed gang robs Sai Mart Mountain View shop
6 hrs ago |
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A gang of suspected robbers armed with machetes reportedly raided a supermarket in Lobengula West in the early hours of Friday, seriously injuring a security guard before escaping with cash, groceries and alcohol.
The robbery occurred at the Mountain View branch of Sai Mart Shopping Centre at around 1 a.m., according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Sai Mart is owned by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Sources said a security guard noticed a suspicious man jumping over the perimeter wall surrounding the supermarket and alerted another guard stationed at a nearby service station. The two guards reportedly moved to investigate before they were ambushed by a group of about eight men armed with machetes and other weapons.
"One of the guards was severely attacked and sustained deep machete cuts before they tied both guards and forced their way into the premises," a source said.
The injured guard was taken to hospital for treatment.
The suspects allegedly broke into a room housing the supermarket's safe before blasting it open using an unidentified object and stealing an undisclosed amount of cash. Groceries and alcohol were also reportedly taken during the raid.
Some of the stolen goods were later recovered in nearby bushy areas, according to sources.
Police in Bulawayo did not immediately confirm the incident, referring questions to national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi, who was unavailable for comment.
However, police sources said investigators suspect the gang may have had inside knowledge of the supermarket's security systems after surveillance cameras were allegedly destroyed during the attack.
Authorities have appealed to members of the public with information related to the robbery to contact the nearest police station.
Police have repeatedly urged business operators to strengthen security systems and avoid keeping large sums of cash on premises overnight.
The latest incident has revived memories of a similar armed robbery at the same supermarket in 2024, when seven suspects, some reportedly armed with firearms, struck at around the same time of night.
The robbery occurred at the Mountain View branch of Sai Mart Shopping Centre at around 1 a.m., according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Sai Mart is owned by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce.
Sources said a security guard noticed a suspicious man jumping over the perimeter wall surrounding the supermarket and alerted another guard stationed at a nearby service station. The two guards reportedly moved to investigate before they were ambushed by a group of about eight men armed with machetes and other weapons.
"One of the guards was severely attacked and sustained deep machete cuts before they tied both guards and forced their way into the premises," a source said.
The injured guard was taken to hospital for treatment.
Some of the stolen goods were later recovered in nearby bushy areas, according to sources.
Police in Bulawayo did not immediately confirm the incident, referring questions to national police spokesperson Paul Nyathi, who was unavailable for comment.
However, police sources said investigators suspect the gang may have had inside knowledge of the supermarket's security systems after surveillance cameras were allegedly destroyed during the attack.
Authorities have appealed to members of the public with information related to the robbery to contact the nearest police station.
Police have repeatedly urged business operators to strengthen security systems and avoid keeping large sums of cash on premises overnight.
The latest incident has revived memories of a similar armed robbery at the same supermarket in 2024, when seven suspects, some reportedly armed with firearms, struck at around the same time of night.
Source - BMetro
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