Drama as robbers pose as detectives, steal Mercedes

Lloyd Ndemo

In one of the most daring robberies committed in Zimbabwe, four criminals masquerading as detectives stormed a house in Marondera town on Thursday, handcuffed the landlord and got away with his Mercedes Benz vehicle and cellphones.

Two of the criminals accosted their victim on the pretext of “investigating crimes that he committed in South Africa” while the others waited in their get-away vehicle. They immediately “arrested” him and then demanded cash and valuables. After bagging three cellphones, the two “arresting officers” sped off in the Mercedes Benz as their counterparts followed in the get-away car.

Swiftly, the victim’s family telephoned police who immediately mounted a roadblock on the Harare-Mutare Highway. The suspects in the Mercedes Benz sped right into the trap and were arrested.

The other two fled.

Mashonaland East police spokesperson Inspector Simon Chazovachii told ZTN that the suspects – Jackson Banda and Shadreck Mubango – are in custody “assisting with investigations”.

Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in armed robbery cases, with police in Bulawayo recently meeting with businesses people in the city to come up with strategies to curb the scourge.