End of the road for highway robbers

Three suspected armed robbers who were targeting and robbing people, especially those stranded along highways in Mashonaland West Province, have been arrested.

The suspects, whose names were still being withheld yesterday, have so far cleared eight armed robbery counts in which they robbed 10 people in separate incidents.

Chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said the three were arrested at a service station in Chinhoyi and that police had launched a manhunt for the fourth suspect who is still at large.

“The accused persons were robbing people of their valuables along the Harare-Chirundu and Chegutu-Chinhoyi highways during the period 20th to 30th of December, 2016,” she said.

“Various property, which includes tyres, car batteries and foodstuffs were recovered. The accused persons have since appeared in court where they were remanded in custody.”

Snr Asst Comm Charamba appealed to members of the public who can assist them with further investigations concerning the case to approach any nearest police station or the National Complaints Desk on (04) 703631.

Armed robbery cases have been on the increase countrywide, with most of the criminals raiding houses and targeting cash and other valuable goods.

Other criminals have also been raiding service stations and business premises, prompting police to carry out awareness campaigns urging people to avoid keeping or moving around with large sums of money.

In November last year, police arrested two suspected armed robbers who were raiding houses in Kadoma, stealing property.

Following the arrest of the two, police recovered a revolver and five spent cartridges and one live round of ammunition. The Herald