Suburban
THE Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested a robber who attacked and robbed a woman in Highlands of her two cellphones on New Year’s Eve.
Suburban Reporter
Police confirmed the arrest of the suspected robber Tawanda Mateo and the recovery of the two cellphones in a tweet on their official Twitter Page.
“The ZRP confirms the arrest of Tawanda Mateo (28) for a robbery case in which he attacked a 20-year –old woman, threatening to stab her with a broken bottle while demanding some valuables along Cecil Road in Highlands, Harare on December 31, 2022 at 1500 hours.
“The suspect stole two Samsung cellphones and fled. The Police recovered the two cellphones from the suspect,” tweeted the ZRP.
The New Year’s Eve robbery followed another robbery in Highlands at the house of businesswoman Elizabeth Rosen on Boxing Day.
Rosen’s family celebrated Boxing Day with tears and scars after they had a horrific encounter with three gun-wielding robbers at their Highlands home in the early hours of the day.
Rosen (72) who also runs Motor Action Sports Club was asleep together with her two grandchildren in separate bedrooms when the robbers jumped over the wall into her yard, broke the kitchen window and cut burglar bars to enter the property.
Hermino Aldernardo Eric (16), the old woman’s alert grandson detected the robbers’ suspicious sounds outside and tried to open the door to see what was happening before he was stabbed above the left eye with a knife by one of the assailants.
Wielding an unidentified firearm, the robbers went on to demand cash from the young man, his brother Romano Rosen and the old woman, threatening to kill them if they did not comply.
The assailants allegedly ransacked the businesswoman’s bedroom, opened her safe and took an envelope with $1 200 before moving into the other rooms where they stole three pairs of shoes and five expensive cellphones.
After the act, the robbers left the family bound with ropes on both legs and hands with the promise of a fiery return in the near future.
It was only after untying themselves some hours later that the family managed to go to Highlands Police Station to file the robbery report.
Inspector Chakanza Julius Luckmore, the Harare Provincial Police spokesperson confirmed the incident and appealed for public support in bringing the culprits to book.
“We confirm receiving the said report and our investigations into it are underway.
“We appeal for any helpful information and support from the public in bringing these and other thieving culprits to book,” he said.
Insp Chakanza added that crime normally rises during festive seasons and urged residents to remain alert, not to leave homes unattended and to phone police as quickly as possible on (0242) 748836 (Harare Operations number) should they encounter any criminal attack.
