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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
TWO domestic workers allegedly stole $28 000 from their employer’s house in Bulawayo’s Hillside suburb and only $700 has been recovered.

The theft was discovered on Monday and it is believed that Eunice Mabhena (50) from Pumula North suburb and Florence Phiri of Mahatshula North suburb connived to steal their employer’s money.

Mabhena has been arrested while Phiri is on the run.

Sources said their employer, Ms Permian Macheka, kept $31 000 in the house before it was stolen.

A source said after stealing the money, the pair continued with their work as if nothing had happened.

One of them only fled after Ms Macheka quizzed them about her missing money.

“She had $31 000 on her. She told us that in August she placed $28 000 in a brief case in her wardrobe before putting an additional $3 000 last week. On Monday she wanted to use the money and when she opened the brief case, she found only $3 000 which was in an envelope with the other money missing. She confronted the maids who professed ignorance about the money,” said the source.

Ms Macheka is said to have rushed to report the matter to the police and when the cops arrived at the house, Phiri had already vanished.

Mabhena was arrested and she was found in possession of $700 she could not account for.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango confirmed the matter and said investigations were in progress.

“We’re investigating a theft case where two domestic workers are suspected to have teamed up to steal from their employer money amounting to $28 000. One of the suspects has been arrested and police are still hunting for the other one,” she said. Insp Simango urged members of the public to avoid keeping large sums of money in their homes as it puts them at risk of being robbed.

The latest case comes two years after a maid, Ntando Dube, vanished after she allegedly stole $50 000 from her employer’s home in Kumalo suburb.

Dube disappeared after giving her two male friends $20 000 from the loot and the pair was later arrested after splashing the money on cars.

On Sunday morning, a Chinese man based in Bulawayo allegedly lost $10 000 to armed robbers who pounced on him at his house.

Mr Jian Zhong (26) was robbed at his home in Hillside suburb by three armed robbers who force-marched him into his bedroom where they demanded cash.

The trio is suspected to have followed him from a casino in the city centre where he was seen flashing cash. — @nqotshili.