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Movie-Style Robbers Hit Mukuru Bulawayo, Steal Over US$78 000<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
By Crime and Courts Reporter-Armed robbers staged a movie-style heist at a Mukuru outlet in Bulawayo on Wednesday morning, making off with more than\u00a0US$78 000 and R501 000<\/strong>\u00a0after forcing an employee to open a safe.<\/p>\n The robbery occurred shortly after\u00a07am along Jason Moyo Street between 8th and 9th Avenue<\/strong>\u00a0in the city centre.<\/p>\n According to the\u00a0Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP)<\/strong>, the suspects ambushed a female employee as she arrived for work at around\u00a07:08am<\/strong>.<\/p>\n National police spokesperson\u00a0Commissioner Paul Nyathi<\/strong>\u00a0said the employee was approached while parking her vehicle outside the premises.<\/p>\n \u201cThe suspects forcibly escorted her into the offices and ordered her to open the strong room and a Chubb safe,\u201d Nyathi said.<\/p>\n Fearing for her safety, the employee complied, giving the robbers access to the safe. The gang then stole\u00a0US$78 141 and R501 820<\/strong>\u00a0in cash.<\/p>\n Police said the suspects also removed the\u00a0Digital Video Recorder (DVR)<\/strong>, which stores surveillance footage, and disabled the\u00a0panic button<\/strong>\u00a0before fleeing through the back door.<\/p>\n No arrests had been made by late Wednesday and investigations were continuing.<\/p>\n The robbery has raised renewed concern about\u00a0daylight armed raids targeting financial service outlets in Bulawayo<\/strong>, which have become attractive targets for organised criminal gangs handling large volumes of cash.<\/p>\n Two years ago, heavily armed robbers carried out a dramatic\u00a0Ecobank robbery in Bulawayo<\/strong>, escaping with more than\u00a0US$4 million<\/strong>\u00a0after attacking a security vehicle outside the bank. The gang used explosives and assault rifles in what was widely described as one of Zimbabwe\u2019s biggest cash heists.<\/p>\n Security experts say such incidents highlight the vulnerability of cash-handling businesses and financial institutions, particularly during early-morning cash deliveries or collections.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, police have appealed to members of the public with information that may assist in the investigation to contact the\u00a0National Complaints Desk on (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp 0712 800 197<\/strong>, or report to any nearest police station.<\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n \nRelated<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n