MEDIA RELEASE
Zimbabwe Republic Police detectives (CID) have arrested five suspects for allegedly robbing unsuspecting commuters in Harare using a Toyota Raum.
The five suspects are Brighton Kanamaruva (32); Nelson Bapiro (33); Kenneth Madzonga (32); Trust Saidi all of Harare and Taurai Kaharo (31) of Chitungwiza.
Upon arrest, the detectives recovered a perfect DBP Pistol serial number 0659 which was being used in committing the offences and various properties that include smart phones, clothes and cameras among other personal valuables.
Circumstances surrounding the several counts are that the suspects who were travelling in this Toyota Raum, white in colour and without registration numbers, picked their victims at places like Corner Park Lane and Samora Machel Avenue; at a bus stop opposite Sam Levy Village; Leopold Takawira; Sam Nujoma; Sam Nujoma Street Extension Shops and Josiah Tongogara among other places.
The five suspects alternated in disguise to net their prey, and purported to be genuine transporters ferrying commuters to and from places that include Greencroft; Avondale; Mt. Pleasant; Marlborough and Borrowdale among other suburbs. Soon after picking the commuters, they would then stop some few metres along the way, produce a pistol while demanding cash and valuables and threaten to shoot the commuter if they resist.
Most complainants in these cases surrendered the valuables and cash while those who resisted were searched at gun point. In addition to their use of their expert skills to arrest the suspects, the detectives have since known the complainants who have already positively identified their property.
The police is appealing to members of the public to ensure that they take due diligence in crime prevention and always be alert at all times. We also urge them to use designated pick up points since most of them are targeted at undesignated pick up points. Even though there have been instances where rogue commuter omnibuses have been involved in these robberies we encourage the public not to use the pirate taxis and use official commuter omnibuses. And to the perpetrators of such crimes we are saying under the watchful eyes of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) we will ensure that the long arm of the law always catches up, so desist from the criminal activities and live a normal life.
Police are also appealing to the public to report suspicious people and all suspicious activities in their neighborhood to the police as soon as possible.
The ZRP is policing for a safe and transforming nation hence the roping in of the public from all walks of life in the fight against crime through community policing initiatives such as suggestion boxes dotted around the country, which members of the public are encouraged to utilize in passing criminal information or ZRP Hotline 04-703631.
For more information please contact the undersigned.
(Portia Chinho) Detective Assistant Inspector
Acting Spokesperson
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT.
Tel 0772 571 455 / 0772 700 904 / 0735 752 386
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