Armed gangs terrorise Byo shops

Police in Bulawayo are investigating two armed robbery incidents in Luveve and Entumbane in which suspects targeted shops and escaped with cash, mobile phones and other valuables. Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the first incident occurred on 1 February at about 7:30pm at a supermarket in Luveve. Three unknown men, believed to be aged between 30 and 35 and of medium height, allegedly entered the shop as it was closing and found three male employees inside.

“All the accused persons were wearing sunhats and black-and-white All Star canvas shoes and were speaking fluent Shona,” Inspector Msebele said. “One of the accused produced a silver pistol and ordered everyone in the shop to lie down. The second accused closed the main door and guarded it while holding a silver pistol, and the third searched the complainants and the tills.” The suspects allegedly stole US$830, R1,250 and three mobile phones from the complainants, as well as an undisclosed amount of cash from the tills.

Inspector Msebele said that as the suspects were leaving, one of the complainants attempted to restrain one of the men and shouted to alert members of the public. “The accused person fired one shot on the ground, forcing the complainant to release him,” she said. “The three suspects then fled into the darkness behind the shops.” A second robbery was reported on 4 February at around 5:45pm at a shop in Entumbane complex.

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Inspector Msebele said four men entered the shop pretending to be customers before producing pistols and ordering everyone to lie down. “They approached the shop manager, a 22-year-old woman from Cowdray Park, slapped her once and demanded cash and the keys to the safe,” she said. The suspects allegedly took US$6,700 in cash and a CCTV hard drive, before searching employees and stealing four mobile phones, US$15 and R30.

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