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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
POLICE in Bulawayo have arrested three suspected burglars who have been terrorising businesses in the city as they broke into several premises in the last two years, getting away with property worth thousands of dollars and cash.

The burglars are said to have been using a grinder to break into the premises targeting the companies’ cash safes in Bulawayo and were active in Botswana and South Africa too. They had apparently become propertied as they bought many houses, cars and ran kombis most of which were registered in the names of their wives.

Police had been struggling to get to the bottom of the break-ins since 2013 when the syndicate started hitting businesses.

The burglars are suspected to be behind the break-in and theft at a Choppies supermarket in New Lobengula where they got away with over $18,000 in December last year.

They also allegedly broke into Liquor Hub wholesale situated along Fife Street in the city centre where they allegedly took about $55,000. The business is owned by prominent Bulawayo businessman, Raj Modi.

Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s police spokesperson, Inspector Precious Simango, said the trio are assisting police with investigations.

“We’ve arrested three suspects in connection with cases of unlawful entry and theft that had overwhelmed the city. Investigations are underway.

“However, I can’t comment further as this might jeopardise our investigations,” said Insp Simango.

The Chronicle yesterday saw the three suspects leading the police in making indications at Raj Modi’s Liquor Hub wholesale.

The trio include two brothers, Agrippa Mloyi, 33 and Nqobile Mloyi, 35, and their accomplice, Elias Mudenda, 38.

Police sources said the three were suspected to be part of a larger group whose other members are still at large.

They said the ring leader was suspected to be Agrippa.

“Agrippa seemed to be the brains behind the break-ins. He was the one who could disable alarms and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras,” said a police source, adding that the three were arrested after a tip-off from members of the public.

“The wife of one of suspects blew the whistle on her husband after a domestic dispute. It seems the suspect had a scuffle with his wife which led to the woman spilling the beans. The woman told the police where the syndicate were hiding their loot. She first told her landlord who then reported the matter to the police,” said the police source.

The police raided a house in New Lobengula Suburb where they arrested the suspects.

“They admitted to breaking into shops such as Choppies, Royal Pharmacy, Mr Baker Nkulumane, Mana Mana take away, Greens Supermarket’s Jason Moyo branch and Raj Modi’s Liquor Hub wholesale. We visited all the shops hit by the syndicate,” said the police source.

The trio were vendors, the police source said, before embarking on their crime life.

“They all had assets registered in their wives’ names. They bought several properties, including kombis, Honda Fits, and residential properties. They used to sell wares at Egodini before turning into criminals,” said the police source.

The trio also hit shops in Botswana and South Africa using the same method of grinding safes.

They would get away through the roofs of the buildings after hitting the shops, the source said.

Modi, expressed gratitude to the police for nabbing the suspects.

“I want to thank the police officers for doing a good job. I’m happy that they’ve been finally caught. They admitted to the police and even showed them how they were breaking in. I lost over $54,000 when they broke into my shop,” he said.