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Village head robbed of US$2 050 in midnight raid
15 hrs ago |
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A 71-year-old village head from Buhera and his wife were allegedly robbed of US$2,050 by four armed suspects who stormed their home at night before locking the elderly couple inside their bedroom and fleeing.
Three suspects have since been arrested, while police are searching for a fourth alleged accomplice.
Manicaland provincial police acting spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident and said investigations were continuing.
He urged members of the public to shun crime and instead pursue lawful means of earning a living.
The robbery occurred shortly after midnight on July 12 at Bhadharai Village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera.
The complainants are village head Timothy Mabviregudo (71) and his wife, Alice Masungo (66).
According to police, the couple had gone to bed at around 8:30pm when four suspects allegedly forced their way into the house at approximately 12:30am.
The intruders reportedly threatened the couple and ordered them to remain silent while searching the bedroom.
Police said one suspect ordered Mabviregudo to remain lying on the bed while another restrained Masungo before the group began searching for money.
The suspects allegedly took US$50 hidden beneath a mattress before demanding more cash, claiming they knew Masungo had recently sold groundnuts.
They then allegedly recovered a satchel containing US$2,000 hidden beneath a pillow.
After taking the money, the suspects allegedly locked the couple inside the bedroom from the outside before fleeing.
At around 5am, villagers responded after learning of the robbery and assisted the couple.
According to police, residents followed footprints believed to have been left by the suspects to Wadzenenga Bus Stop.
They later received information that four men matching the suspects' descriptions had boarded a Phil and Phats bus travelling to Harare.
The matter was reported to ZRP Murambinda, which alerted officers at the Beatrice roadblock.
Police intercepted the bus and arrested three suspects identified as Tatenda Tokotore (32), of Bhadharai Village, Crispen Zhemu (26), of Gororo Village, and Kassim Jali (23), of Epworth, Harare.
Police said Tokotore is the son of Mabviregudo's younger brother.
The fourth suspect is alleged to have disembarked from the bus earlier in Murambinda and remains at large.
During the investigation, police recovered US$1,013 believed to be part of the stolen cash.
Officers also recovered a blue Buffalo bicycle which, according to police, the suspects allegedly admitted had been stolen from another homestead belonging to Blessing Makanje.
Police said property worth US$2,050 was stolen during the robbery, with US$1,013 recovered so far.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and said police would continue pursuing those involved in violent crime until they are brought before the courts.
Three suspects have since been arrested, while police are searching for a fourth alleged accomplice.
Manicaland provincial police acting spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the incident and said investigations were continuing.
He urged members of the public to shun crime and instead pursue lawful means of earning a living.
The robbery occurred shortly after midnight on July 12 at Bhadharai Village under Chief Nyashanu in Buhera.
The complainants are village head Timothy Mabviregudo (71) and his wife, Alice Masungo (66).
According to police, the couple had gone to bed at around 8:30pm when four suspects allegedly forced their way into the house at approximately 12:30am.
The intruders reportedly threatened the couple and ordered them to remain silent while searching the bedroom.
Police said one suspect ordered Mabviregudo to remain lying on the bed while another restrained Masungo before the group began searching for money.
The suspects allegedly took US$50 hidden beneath a mattress before demanding more cash, claiming they knew Masungo had recently sold groundnuts.
They then allegedly recovered a satchel containing US$2,000 hidden beneath a pillow.
After taking the money, the suspects allegedly locked the couple inside the bedroom from the outside before fleeing.
At around 5am, villagers responded after learning of the robbery and assisted the couple.
According to police, residents followed footprints believed to have been left by the suspects to Wadzenenga Bus Stop.
They later received information that four men matching the suspects' descriptions had boarded a Phil and Phats bus travelling to Harare.
The matter was reported to ZRP Murambinda, which alerted officers at the Beatrice roadblock.
Police intercepted the bus and arrested three suspects identified as Tatenda Tokotore (32), of Bhadharai Village, Crispen Zhemu (26), of Gororo Village, and Kassim Jali (23), of Epworth, Harare.
Police said Tokotore is the son of Mabviregudo's younger brother.
The fourth suspect is alleged to have disembarked from the bus earlier in Murambinda and remains at large.
During the investigation, police recovered US$1,013 believed to be part of the stolen cash.
Officers also recovered a blue Buffalo bicycle which, according to police, the suspects allegedly admitted had been stolen from another homestead belonging to Blessing Makanje.
Police said property worth US$2,050 was stolen during the robbery, with US$1,013 recovered so far.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and said police would continue pursuing those involved in violent crime until they are brought before the courts.
Source - Midweek Watch
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