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Armed trio escapes with over US$500,000 in daring Bulawayo mine heist
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Three suspected armed robbers carried out a daring heist at the Old Nic Mine in Killarney, Bulawayo, on Wednesday, making off with over US$500,000 in cash.
The robbery took place shortly before 1PM when the trio approached a security guard on patrol, brandishing firearms. Eyewitnesses say the robbers disarmed the guard, manhandled him, and tied him up with tie cables before forcing him under a parked white Honda Fit in the mine's parking area.
According to a mine worker who witnessed the event, two of the suspects then used a cutter to breach the fence securing the office yard. They entered through a west-facing door and confronted two staff members inside.
"The robbers produced guns and demanded cash. One of them immediately went to a desk safe, removing US$20,000 along with keys and a panic button," the witness reported.
The suspects then ordered one of the staff members to unlock the main safe, from which they stole US$523,076, packing the money into a blue sling bag. In addition to the cash, they took a staff member's mobile phone before fleeing on foot.
The total cash stolen is estimated at US$543,076. Police have confirmed that no recoveries have been made so far.
Following the escape, the two staff members raised the alarm, and police were promptly called to the scene. Investigations are underway, with officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide Unit, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Canine Unit, and other divisions conducting searches and inquiries.
This incident echoes a similar robbery in 2022, when a gang of 13 armed robbers targeted How Mine in Bulawayo, making off with gold worth US$450,000. That heist involved a shootout with security guards and multiple getaway vehicles, including a Nissan March, Toyota GD6, and Nissan Hardbody.
Police swiftly tracked and arrested three suspects in Douglasdale within 24 hours of the How Mine robbery, while another was apprehended in Beitbridge while trying to flee to South Africa.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the Old Nic Mine robbery to come forward to aid ongoing investigations.
The robbery took place shortly before 1PM when the trio approached a security guard on patrol, brandishing firearms. Eyewitnesses say the robbers disarmed the guard, manhandled him, and tied him up with tie cables before forcing him under a parked white Honda Fit in the mine's parking area.
According to a mine worker who witnessed the event, two of the suspects then used a cutter to breach the fence securing the office yard. They entered through a west-facing door and confronted two staff members inside.
"The robbers produced guns and demanded cash. One of them immediately went to a desk safe, removing US$20,000 along with keys and a panic button," the witness reported.
The suspects then ordered one of the staff members to unlock the main safe, from which they stole US$523,076, packing the money into a blue sling bag. In addition to the cash, they took a staff member's mobile phone before fleeing on foot.
The total cash stolen is estimated at US$543,076. Police have confirmed that no recoveries have been made so far.
Following the escape, the two staff members raised the alarm, and police were promptly called to the scene. Investigations are underway, with officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide Unit, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Canine Unit, and other divisions conducting searches and inquiries.
This incident echoes a similar robbery in 2022, when a gang of 13 armed robbers targeted How Mine in Bulawayo, making off with gold worth US$450,000. That heist involved a shootout with security guards and multiple getaway vehicles, including a Nissan March, Toyota GD6, and Nissan Hardbody.
Police swiftly tracked and arrested three suspects in Douglasdale within 24 hours of the How Mine robbery, while another was apprehended in Beitbridge while trying to flee to South Africa.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to the Old Nic Mine robbery to come forward to aid ongoing investigations.
Source - the Chronicle
