In a dramatic turn of events, five armed robbers who brazenly targeted Fawcett Security Company in Chipinge and made off with a staggering US$111,000 and R1,281,320 were apprehended just two days after their audacious heist.
The arrests, which were made following a tip-off, have grabbed national headlines and, highlighted the unwavering dedication of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in combating crime.
The investigation began when detectives from the CID Homicide Department in Harare received a tip-off last Friday that Norest Masikira, a 43-year-old Fawcett Security employee, was involved in the robbery. Masikira, who hails from Gaza A in Chipinge, allegedly provided crucial information about the company’s operations to the robbers.
Working swiftly, the Harare detectives teamed up with their counterparts in Chipinge and apprehended Masikira. Under interrogation, Masikira implicated two other individuals, Takesure Simango (40) and Givemore Makoto (40), both unemployed and residing in Chipinge.
The investigation took a further turn when Simango and Makoto, in a bid to lessen their own culpability, revealed the identities of the remaining two suspects: Tendai Mupatsi (25) and his brother, Lovejoy Mupatsi (38). Both brothers are also from Chipinge.
The arrests led to the recovery of R98,000 and US$850 from Lovejoy Mupatsi’s car, which he allegedly claimed was his share of the loot. While Masikira, Simango, and Makoto were searched, no evidence was found in their possession.
However, during questioning, Masikira confessed to providing confidential information about Fawcett Security Company’s Chipinge vault to Simango and Makoto. The two suspects, in turn, admitted to sharing this information with the Mupatsi brothers.
“Tendai Mupatsi admitted robbing the security company in the company of the other suspects,” a police source revealed.
“However, he failed to mention their names, saying he did not personally know them, as they had only approached him with the idea of a heist after coming from South Africa where they claimed to reside.”
The source further revealed that the complainants in the case are Fawcett Security Company employees: Mr Dzime Sithole, Mr George Nhamo Simango, Mr Mauka Chigonese, Mr Taurai Tarangwa, and Mr Gideon Gurudza (49).
The Manica Post reported that more money was recovered during the investigation, although the exact amount could not be confirmed at the time of going to print.
Two masked individuals, armed with pistols, emerged from behind the vehicle and ordered the two employees to disembark. They were then forced to surrender their jackets, hats, and vehicle keys.
The robbers, after making the Fawcett employees comply, donned their uniforms, tied their hands, and locked them in the vehicle’s back cash compartment.
Three accomplices then arrived and joined their two counterparts, before driving to the Fawcett Security Company premises in Gaza Township. Along the way, they stopped to load unknown items, and proceeded to the Fawcett Security Company offices.
Upon arrival at the main gate, the robbers ordered a security guard, Mr Mauka Chigonese, who was on duty, to unlock the gate. After opening the gate, Chigonese was manhandled and tied with electric cables.
The robbers then disarmed another security guard, Mr Taurai Tarangwa, who was on roving duties. They removed his shoelaces and tied his hands, forcing him to call Mr Gordon Gurudza, who was monitoring the alarm system, to open the office door.
Gurudza, upon opening the door, was ordered to lie face down and his hands were tied with an electric cable.
The robbers proceeded to damage the alarm control board, exterior light, BVR Computer Camera Saver, and two kits. They then broke into the vault using a grinder and stole cash from six cash boxes, stashing the money in a sack containing cow feed.
The robbers then drove off to Moiplass Estate, with the security guards at the back of the vehicle. They left the vehicle parked against a tree trunk, preventing the security guards from escaping, and abandoned it.
One of the complainants, Mr Sithole, later informed Fawcett Chipinge branch manager, Mr Peter Kabaira, about the incident, who then filed a report at ZRP Chipinge Urban. They attended the scene together with Chipinge police details.
