Bulawayo – In a bizarre turn of events, Bulawayo police have recovered the safe and all the cash stolen during a daring robbery at a Kelvin West company on the night of 6 January 2025.
The audacious heist, initially leaving investigators with a trail of trolley marks as the only clue, took an unexpected twist when the suspects, seemingly unable to open the safe, abandoned it intact along a stream bank near a beer garden in Tshabalala.
Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele detailed the recovery in a press statement: “They tracked the trolley marks towards Tshabalala and managed to recover the safe which had US$10 569 still intact and cash still in the safe along stream bank near a Beer Garden in Tshabalala, Bulawayo.
The Jack Trolley was not recovered. The total value stolen is US$11 869 and total value recovered US$11 269.”
The thieves, whose identities remain unknown, initially gained entry by smashing a windowpane and folding back the burglar bars. They then loaded the Chubb safe onto a Jack trolley before making their escape.
The swift recovery of the safe and the money, while leaving the suspects at large, represents a significant success for the Bulawayo police. The investigation continues, focusing on identifying and apprehending those responsible for the crime. The recovered amount, US$10,569, represents the majority of the US$11,869 initially stolen, with the discrepancy likely accounting for other items taken during the break-in.
ZRP Commissioner Paul Nyathi issued a statement categorically dismissing these claims: “The ZRP dismisses viral social media posts on alleged discovery of part of US$4 million Bulawayo bank robbery heist at a certain house in Unit F, Seke, Chitungwiza. The allegations are false and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve. The ZRP warns the public, especially criminal elements against abuse of social media platforms to engage in criminal activities as revealed by this incident.”
The police investigation revealed that the Chitungwiza incident was a separate crime entirely. The false social media reports prompted a mob to forcibly enter the home of a Harare businessman while he was absent, resulting in the theft of US$13,500 and property damage.
Nyathi explained: “Police have established that after the viral social media post, the public forced entry into the local businessman’s house, damaged property and some took away US$13 500. The businessman runs a hardware in Harare Central Business District and was away at the time of the incident. The public did not find part of the US$4 million heist as alleged on the social media platforms. The public is urged to be cautious and avoid being reactionary to false social media messages.” Investigations into this separate theft are ongoing.
This high-profile case, considered the largest bank robbery in Zimbabwean history, continues to be a major focus for law enforcement, including Interpol. The incident, which lasted a mere 109 seconds and was captured on CCTV, continues to fuel public discourse and underscores the need for enhanced security measures within the banking sector.
