Armed robbers break into churches and rob a vehicle and cash in Bulawayo
Police are searching for four notorious armed robbers who broke into two churches in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo early Wednesday, beating Priest and robbing over $900 and a vehicle.
Acting Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the incident and said that the suspects robbed at Holy Trinity Catholic Church and House of Liberty Christian Church.
“On the 13th of July 2023 at around 0130 hours the complainant a female adult aged 40 of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo was asleep in her bedroom at a church house when she was awakened by a noise at the main door,” said Assistant Inspector Msebele. She added, “she proceeded there to check what was happening and she met the three accused person who were already inside the house.”
Demanding Cash
Assistant Inspector Msebele stated that they were armed with a machete, iron bar and a kitchen knife which they took inside the house. They assaulted her with a fist on the face threatening to kill her and went on to demand cash from her. The accused persons force marched the complainant back into her bedroom and reinsecked the house.
They took away usd $150 which was inside the mornach suitcase and various clothing. They proceeded to the main church and forcibly open the door using unknown object and took away a yellow generator and black amplifier and went away. A police report was made, the total value of stolen property cost usd $800.
On another similar incident, on the same night at around 0200 hours, the complainant a male adult aged 48 of Cowdray Park, Bulawayo was awakened by four male accused persons who broke into the house armed with axes and machetes. The accused persons were knocking on his bedroom door ordering him to open the door.
The Assault
“As he opened the door, the accused persons slapped him on his face threatening him and demanding for cash. The accused persons then ransacked the complainant’s bedroom, they took a cash box which was in the wardrobe containing an amount of money which is yet to be ascertained,” stated Assistant Inspector Msebele.
She added, “They also took the complainant’s wallet which had $120 USD and his Samsung A14 cellphone. They then demanded for motor vehicle keys and the complainant gave them keys to a white isuzu single cab pickup truck which had about 30 litres of diesel, reg number AFD 0450.”
Msebele further explained that the accused persons then proceeded to another spare bedroom where they found a male adult aged 32 years sleeping, they also threatened him and force marched him to the complainant’s bedroom. The accused persons used a pair of handcuffs which they had to cuff them together and instructed the two to sit down, they then drove away leaving them cuffed. A police report was made.
Don’t Keep Large Sums of Money
In response to the notorious incident, Assistant Inspector Msebele said, “we urge churches to guard their premises, not to keep large sums of money, use cash box facility offered by reputable security companies also not announce the daily taking at the churches because not all that comes to church have good intentions.”
Meanwhile, there has been more than three cases of robbery reported this week alone in Bulawayo.
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