Bulawayo is reeling from yet another brazen armed robbery, this time targeting a local steel company in the Belmont area.
Seven armed men, wielding pistols and a pick, stormed the premises on October 15th, making off with a substantial sum of money – US$32,500 and ZAR 300. The robbery follows a string of high-profile heists in the city, raising serious concerns about security.
According to a statement released on Thursday by police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the robbers bound two security guards and twelve employees with shoelaces before carrying out the theft. Commissioner Nyathi confirmed the details of the incident.
“US$32,500 and ZAR 300 cash were stolen after seven unknown male suspects, armed with pistols and a pick, stormed at steel company,” said Comm Nyathi.
The audacity of the attack is striking, highlighting the vulnerability of businesses, even those presumably with security measures in place.
The level of violence employed by the robbers is also deeply concerning. Commissioner Nyathi detailed the brutality of the attack.
“The suspects tied two security guards and 12 workers, who were on duty, with shoelaces,” he said.
He further revealed that one worker, attempting to escape, was struck on the head with a pick. Beyond the financial loss, the trauma inflicted upon the victims underscores the severity of the crime. The robbers didn’t limit themselves to cash; they also confiscated personal valuables and mobile phones from the employees, adding another layer of victimization to the incident.
This incident is far from an isolated occurrence. It follows closely on the heels of the country’s largest ever heist, where over US$4.4 million was stolen from an Ecobank branch in Bulawayo a fortnight ago. In that robbery, about 7 armed robbers intercepted a cash-in-transit van as it was being loaded. The frequency and scale of these robberies are undoubtedly causing alarm amongst businesses and the general public alike. The sense of insecurity is palpable, with many questioning the effectiveness of current security measures.
Adding to the growing sense of unease, another significant robbery occurred just days before the steel company incident. On Wednesday, US$20,000 was stolen from a Fawcett security cash-in-transit van. In this case, the robbers exploited a lapse in security, gaining access to the vehicle by posing as passengers. Guards transporting the cash from Beitbridge to Mutare had offered a lift to two strangers, who subsequently robbed them. This incident highlights the need for heightened vigilance and stricter security protocols, not just for cash-in-transit vehicles, but for all businesses handling significant sums of money.
Commissioner Nyathi concluded his statement with a plea for public assistance. He urged anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact their nearest police station. The police are actively investigating all three incidents, and the public’s cooperation is crucial in bringing those responsible to justice.
