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Peter Matika, [email protected]

A GANG of four armed robbers executed a daring midnight heist at a funeral parlor situated in Bulawayo’s Kelvin Industrial area making off with over ZAR20 000 and US$3 000 in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The brazen criminals, armed with pistols and machetes, launched a violent attack on the premises of Kings and Queens Funeral Services, terrorizing the staff and causing mayhem in their wake.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident, saying the audacious midnight raid began with the robbers overpowering the security guards, subjecting them to physical assault before tying them up to prevent any resistance.

He said with the guards neutralized, the criminals proceeded to ransack the premises, vandalizing a safe in search of valuables.

“Despite the tight security measures put in place, the robbers managed to make off with a substantial amount of cash, stealing a total of R21 130 and US$3 608 before fleeing the scene. They attacked the security guards and threatened them with machetes and pistols they were armed with before beating and tying them up,” said Comm Nyathi.

He said afterward they stripped the guards of their raincoats before wearing them as they clandestinely raided the safe, which they opened using a grinder.

Comm Nyathi said the security guards managed to free themselves shortly after 2 AM after the robbers had escaped.

“They were clad in balaclavas and we are appealing to members of the public for information that may lead to their arrest. We suspect that this was an inside job as they were aware that there was money at the premises,” said Comm Nyathi.

He also urged members of the public not to harbor criminals as they may turn on them and rob them.

“Investigations are underway and we want to warn these robbers that we will not hesitate to unleash the full wrath of the law on them. Let this be a final warning to all these gangs and cartels,” said Comm Nyathi.

Last Thursday night a gang of armed robbers pounced on a tuck shop in Bulawayo’s Nketa 6 suburb, where the owner of the facility found himself facing the barrel of a gun as two armed robbers demanded cash and valuables from the small business owner.

Fearing for his life and that of his teenage son, Mr Dube handed the day’s earnings of US$85 and a cellphone.

The two robbers proceeded to grab soft drinks from a refrigerator in the tuck shop before vanishing into the darkness.

Mr Dube in his statement said his son tried to raise the alarm by screaming for help while following them prompting them to fire a single shot to scare him off.

Police detectives were called to the scene and they canvassed the area in search of a cartridge from the bullet that was fired by one of the armed robbers.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said one of the suspects pointed a pistol at the complainant and demanded cash.

She said the suspects fired one shot into the air before running away.

A fortnight ago, a gang of three armed robbers attacked a Sai Mart outlet in New Lobengula suburb in a botched attempted robbery.

Residents of the suburb pelted the armed robbers with stones forcing the gang to flee on foot.

The shop manager was shot in both thighs after he told the armed robbers that he did not have keys to the business’ strong room where cash is kept.

Last year in December three armed robbers struck a Choppies outlet in New Luveve and made off with US$1 000. They fired three shots, injuring the manager and a security guard before fleeing on foot.