Zaoga church loses $24,000 to thieves

THIEVES broke into a Zaoga Church in Gutu, Masvingo, and got away with cash amounting to more than $24,000 early on Thursday last week, police confirmed.

The gang gained entry through a window which had a broken handle and bent the burglar bars using a metal object suspected to be an iron bar.

Masvingo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Peter Zhanero said the criminals were still at large.

"I confirm receiving a report of unlawful entry and theft involving cash amounting to $24,683. The burglars disappeared after committing the crime and police have since launched a manhunt," he said.

Insp Zhanero said the suspects forced open the doors leading to the church offices after which they proceeded to the one that had a safe.

"The suspected burglars had to cut the padlocks to the security screen leading to the offices before reaching a safe in another office.

"They also force opened the locked office before blowing the safe containing cash using dynamites. Thereafter they got away with all the cash they found inside and disappeared," he said.

Insp Zhanero said the incident was discovered when workers reported for work around 7 am.

A report was made to the police who attended the scene but the suspects had fled.