News / National
Robbers arrested after a shoot-out with cops
22 Nov 2014 at 09:08hrs | Views
Police arrested eight robbers after a shoot out in New Tafara, Harare, on Wednesday night.
The group is believed to have committed a spate of armed robberies in the city. National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi on Thursday said they recovered three firearms, a pellet gun and 359 rounds of ammunition from the robbers.
He identified the suspects as Ephraim Malcom Matiza (22), Benjamin Musasa (27), Roy Majunga (27), Taurai Fandai (24), Jonathan Muchemwa (31), Trust Misolo (27), Jonathan Mwale (30) and Mostapha Ngunda (36).
Chief Supt Nyathi said on October 12 this year, the group got away with $30 000 and a laptop from a house in Ruwa after overpowering a man who was there.
On November 6, the same group armed with a revolver, spanner and a screwdriver, invaded the house of a 29-year-old Chinese man in Greystone Park.
The man was in his bedroom while his maid was in the kitchen and his caretaker was at the backyard cottage.
"They held the maid at gun point and demanded to see the boss," he said.
"They force marched her to the bedroom in the first floor where they confronted the complainant, pointing a gun at him. They took a cellphone and $500 which was in the man's trousers. One of the accused went to the other bedroom after demanding the safe keys and unlocking codes and took another $500."
The robbers, Chief Supt Nyathi said, also took three pistols and 387 rounds of ammunition, company documents and spare keys of company vehicles from the Chinese man.
"They ransacked the house and took some clothes and shoes, said Chief Supt Nyathi. In the process, the caretaker came and met two of the criminals.
"He ran into the cottage and took a pellet gun and fired a shot at the accused and they managed to drive away."
Chief Supt Nyathi said on November 14 at night, the group went to a company in Ruwa where it got away with goods and cash valued at $15 000, a pistol with a magazine with five rounds and four laptops, before dismantling a CCTV camera which was installed in one of the rooms.
"Police received some information on Wednesday night and went to New Tafara, Mabvuku where they picked up one of the accused, Malcom who implicated Benjamin and Roy," he said.
The two were arrested at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex while parking their cars next to each other and they implicated Taurai, Muchemwa and Mwale.
"The three were said to be in Tafara and the police went there and on arrival they saw a Subaru B4 parked with doors open and the accused inside," he said.
"Police blocked the car and the driver, Taurai rammed into the police Isuzu vehicle while others started firing at the police who fired back resulting in a shoot- out.
Mwale was shot on the right ankle before all of them were arrested.
The group is believed to have committed a spate of armed robberies in the city. National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi on Thursday said they recovered three firearms, a pellet gun and 359 rounds of ammunition from the robbers.
He identified the suspects as Ephraim Malcom Matiza (22), Benjamin Musasa (27), Roy Majunga (27), Taurai Fandai (24), Jonathan Muchemwa (31), Trust Misolo (27), Jonathan Mwale (30) and Mostapha Ngunda (36).
Chief Supt Nyathi said on October 12 this year, the group got away with $30 000 and a laptop from a house in Ruwa after overpowering a man who was there.
On November 6, the same group armed with a revolver, spanner and a screwdriver, invaded the house of a 29-year-old Chinese man in Greystone Park.
The man was in his bedroom while his maid was in the kitchen and his caretaker was at the backyard cottage.
"They held the maid at gun point and demanded to see the boss," he said.
"They force marched her to the bedroom in the first floor where they confronted the complainant, pointing a gun at him. They took a cellphone and $500 which was in the man's trousers. One of the accused went to the other bedroom after demanding the safe keys and unlocking codes and took another $500."
"They ransacked the house and took some clothes and shoes, said Chief Supt Nyathi. In the process, the caretaker came and met two of the criminals.
"He ran into the cottage and took a pellet gun and fired a shot at the accused and they managed to drive away."
Chief Supt Nyathi said on November 14 at night, the group went to a company in Ruwa where it got away with goods and cash valued at $15 000, a pistol with a magazine with five rounds and four laptops, before dismantling a CCTV camera which was installed in one of the rooms.
"Police received some information on Wednesday night and went to New Tafara, Mabvuku where they picked up one of the accused, Malcom who implicated Benjamin and Roy," he said.
The two were arrested at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex while parking their cars next to each other and they implicated Taurai, Muchemwa and Mwale.
"The three were said to be in Tafara and the police went there and on arrival they saw a Subaru B4 parked with doors open and the accused inside," he said.
"Police blocked the car and the driver, Taurai rammed into the police Isuzu vehicle while others started firing at the police who fired back resulting in a shoot- out.
Mwale was shot on the right ankle before all of them were arrested.
Source - The Herald
