Suburban
Jeremiah Mudonha and Peter Tanyanyiwa
ARMED robbers recently raided a Mt Pleasant house, threatened the owners of the property with violence before making off with US$14 000 cash and other valuables while a gang of six marauding thieves left a Monavale couple for dead after brutally bludgeoning them before stealing US$300 cash.
Police confirmed that the two-men gang armed with a gun and a machete broke into the Mt Pleasant house in the early hours of March 2, 2023 as robbers continue their reign of terror in the northern suburbs.
Harare Provincial spokesperson, Inspector Julius Chakanza said the robbers allegedly came to the house at around 0200 hours, jumped the concrete pre-cast wall and broke burglar bars on the lounge window to get into inside.
Narrating their ordeal, the house owner Mr Wilfred Chimponda (57) said he was awoken upon hearing his wife screaming before catching sight of the two intruders in their bedroom.
One was armed with a silver pistol while the other had a machete and a wooden stick.
They ordered Mr Chimponda and his wife to cover their faces with blankets.
Mr Chimponda tried to reason with the robbers that he could give them the US$45 which was the only money in his wallet but was told to surrender more if he did not want them to be violent.
Resignedly, he directed them to a cash box in the house, which they broke open with a metal object before stealing US$14 000 cash.
The robbers further ransacked the house and went away with an apple laptop, six blankets, Huawei cellphone P30, Samsung Galaxy A02 cellphone, Itel cellphone, car keys, clothes and wrist watches. Insp Chakanza said police attended the scene but no arrests or recoveries have been made. He appealed for public support in bringing the scourge of robberies under control through, among other things, passing tip-offs to police and conducting neighbourhood watch patrols.
In the past police have also warned residents and businesspeople against keeping large sums of money at home or at their premises as they easily become targets and lose the money when criminals break into their properties.
In a related case, the Monovale community is appealing for financial help to settle medical bills of a couple who were recently injured when a six-men gang of robbers assaulted them while stealing from their house.
Monavale residents also need help to put a cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the criminals who recently brutally assaulted Alex and Michelle Browne.
In a statement, the Monavale community said the couple were left with serious injuries and a well-wisher has been helping with their medical bills.
“Alex and Michelle Browne residing near the Italian Club were brutally assaulted and robbed last night by a gang of six thieves. The intruders severely assaulted Alex and Michelle with metal poles, beating them to near death. Alex is in a stable but serious condition in Avenues Clinic after sustaining fractures to his skull, broken ribs (and a) punctured lung. Michelle sustained a broken arm with severe bruising to her body. The thieves made away with US$300 yet left them near dead in serious condition that will need forward medical treatment, for Alex especially. A Good Samaritan has been assisting both Alex and Michelle with their hospital Medical costs that are extensive thus far.
“A Go-fund me profile is currently being established to assist them both on medical costs cover for treatments. As a community we are also endeavouring to similarly raise money for a reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the culprits in this gang of thieves. Anyone willing to assist on donations of any sort for medical costs for the couple or the reward is welcome to do so. Kindly go onto the Go-fund me page to be circulated,” reads the statement.
In a security alert to clients this week, leading security company Safeguard warned that thieves are on the prowl in the northern suburbs targeting gate motors in some suburbs such as Mt Pleasant, Vainona and Glen Lorne.
“There has been a spate of electric gate motor thefts in some parts of Harare. Reports were mainly received from Vainona, Glen Lorne and Mt Pleasant. Householders are urged to ensure that their gate motors are well secured and even alarmed,” Safeguard said in the alert shared on residents’ WhatsApp groups.
The security company recommended a number of measures which residents could take to secure their gate motors:
We would recommend that locks such as insurance locks or queen locks be used to secure all gate motor cages
Install a sound bomb, which is a loud localised alarm that is triggered whenever the cage has been opened
We usually recommend that the sound bomb be placed next to the intercom in the house
Those with alarm systems installed in their homes can have a sensor installed in the cage linked to the alarm so that the alarm is triggered whenever the cage is opened
