A group of armed robbers who allegedly stole US$129,000 from Meru Service Station last week hid the stolen money in various places, including a garden, a wardrobe, and other spots.
One of the robbers used part of the loot to purchase a 48-inch TV, a kitchen unit, utensils, buckets, a phone, and groceries.
The details of the robbery plan emerged after six suspects, including one who was shot in the leg while trying to flee from police in Chitungwiza, appeared in court over the weekend.
The suspects, Willard Chinorukwa, Enerst Manzunzu, Borniface Masora, Simbarashe Vheremu, Munyaradzi Gurure, and Mike Matumba, were not asked to enter a plea when they appeared before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa. Some suspects are still on the run.
According to the court, the gang planned the robbery on Monday of the previous week. Armed with a 9mm Star pistol and machetes, they drove to Meru Service Station in Kuwadzana in a silver Nissan AD Van with registration number ADP 9724.
They ambushed the company’s cashier, Hillary Hufa, who had been collecting cash from different branches, and confronted Zindoga Jiri, a Fawcett Security guard.
They disarmed Jiri of his revolver and then threatened Hufa with a pistol, forcing him to drop a satchel containing US$129,111 in cash. The gang seized the satchel and fled in their vehicle.
On Thursday, CID Homicide detectives received a tip-off about Chinorukwa’s involvement in the robbery and tracked him down to his home in Chitungwiza, where he was arrested after being shot in the leg while trying to escape. Police recovered US$7,760 hidden in his garden, and he led them to Manzunzu’s arrest in Norton, where they found US$7,500 in his bedroom.
The rest of the gang was apprehended the same day. Detectives found US$1,980 hidden by Masora in a wardrobe and a kitchen unit, along with the 48-inch TV, utensils, buckets, a cell phone, and groceries purchased with some of the stolen money.
Masora then led police to Vheremu’s home, where they found US$3,000. Gurure was arrested next, with US$1,260 recovered from him.
Finally, Matumba was arrested, and police recovered US$1,900 from him. The suspects were remanded in custody as investigations continue.
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