Traveller attacked by 8 armed robbers, loses R25 000

EIGHT unidentified man armed with machetes, knives and stones allegedly attacked and robbed a traveller of R25 000, groceries, smart phones and 100 litres of diesel along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway.

The robbery occurred on Tuesday midnight near a rail-road crossing in Beitbridge.

Mr Tafirenyika Matauro (33) of Chipinge was travelling from South Africa with his brother when the incident occurred.

Upon nearing the rail crossing, a source said, Matauro saw rocks on the road and when he tried to evade them, he had a tyre puncture.

“Eight men appeared from the dark. They carried machetes, knives and stones and threatened to kill them. The gang tied up the brothers using T-shirts that were in the car.

“They took away R25 000, smart phones, groceries and containers with 100 litres of diesel. The gang fled into the darkness soon after committing the crime,” said the source.

Confirming the incident, Matabeleland South Police spokesperson Inspector Philisani Ndebele said the robbers are still at large and investigations were underway.

“Members of the public must be very careful especially when travelling at night. Drivers should always be on high alert, and make a u-turn when they see suspicious things on the roads. Robbers now have a tendency of putting big stones on the road, and once a driver stops to clear the road, they pounce on them,” said Insp Ndebele.

He urged drivers to be careful, especially when they slow down at robots at night.

“They, also, should always be on the alert and lock their cars as they travel at night.

“We warn members of the public to desist from getting lifts from people they don’t know. Motorists should always avoid picking people they don’t know on the roads as they risk being robbed,” said Insp Ndebele.

“The types of robbers who are on the loose are callous and uncompromising. Members of the public should seriously take heed of police messages to immediately bank all large sums of money being kept at business premises or houses. This is for your own safety”.— @ winnie_masara