SIX gun-wielding robbers raided a bank and shop in Lupane
in two separate incidents and got away with more than $1 200 and undisclosed
groceries.
Police spokesperson for Matabeleland North, Chief Inspector
Siphiwe Makonese, said the two incidents occurred in the early hours of Friday
last week.
She said two suspects pounced on the Agribank branch at
Lupane Business Centre where they used a metal bar to break open a front door
but fled before entering the banking hall after a security guard fired a
warning shot in the air.
In the other incident, four men armed with a gun raided
Zapalala Wholesale shop where they used explosives to blow up a money safe
after tying up two security guards with a wire and deactivating the Closed
Circuit Television (CCTV).
“Police received a report about two robbery incidents in
Lupane. In the first incident, the bank manager Oscar Nguqu knocked off in the
evening on March 7 and left, Damo Dongo, a Fawcett Security guard manning the
premises.
“Around 2AM on Friday, Dongo was conducting routine checks
around the premises when he heard noise from the front of the banking hall. He
went to check and saw two people trying to open an inner security door after
breaking the main door. The security guard fired a warning shot into the air
and the two suspects fled while threatening to shoot back,” said Chief Insp
Makonese.
She said nothing was stolen from the bank but the door was
damaged. An hour later, four men allegedly pounced on two security
guards, Mr Collen Nxumalo and Mr William Mhlanga, who were guarding Zapalala
shop.
Chief Insp Makonese said the four armed suspects tied up
the two security guards with a wire and force-marched them to the toilet and
locked them inside.
The robbers gained entry into the shop by breaking the back
door using a metal bar.
“They switched off the CCTV and entered the safe room. They
blew the safe lock using explosives and took $1 215.20. They also tried to open
another safe belonging to Mukuru which was in the same room but failed,” said
Chief Insp Makonese.
She said the suspects took two empty portable metal cash
boxes, an assortment of groceries and safe keys.
Investigations into the matter are in progress and no
arrest has been made. Chronicle
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