Abandoned vehicle leads police to US$650 000 How M...

Abandoned vehicle leads police to US$650 000 How Mine Gold Heist gang

Abandoned truck owner shares surname with 2 identified suspects still at large
Regular driver of abandoned vehicle first to be nabbed
Two others caught in Beitbridge trying to flee to SA
4 more suspects identified- Abraham Vumbunu, Elijah Vumbunu, Israel Zulu and Diva
303 riffle loaded with eight live rounds and three empty metal boxes recovered at construction site

Zim Now Writer

Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested three of the 13 armed robbers who yesterday waylaid three cash-in-transit vehicles destined for Harare from How Mine and got away with 11.6kg of gold valued at US$650 000.

First to be arrested was Anthony Moyo (39) who went on to implicate two other accomplices, Wilson Mutandwa and Earnest Mutandwa who were subsequently apprehended as they attempted to cross the Beitbridge border into South Africa.

Police established that the robbers’ vehicle abandoned at the scene, a Nissan NP300 single cab vehicle with South African registration plates (HR30XJGP), belongs to Ximba Nkosilathi (a.k.a Tonderai Vumbunu).

Investigations led police to Anthony Moyo who was known to have driven the vehicle on a regular basis.

Upon Moyo’s arrest, he implicated Wilson and Earnest Mutandwa who were picked up at the border with SA.

The 10 accomplices on the run include Abraham Vumbunu, Elijah Vumbunu, Israel Zulu, one Diva and six others yet to be identified.

Police say detectives also received information to the effect that part of the items used in the crime commission had been abandoned at a house situated along Folly Road in West Summerton, Bulawayo. The building is still under construction.

At the site police recovered some car keys, 3X9mm spent cartridges, a back glove, a 303 riffle loaded with eight live rounds and three empty metal boxes.

Police have, meanwhile, sent a warning to people who pass otherwise confidential information to perpetrators of crime to be on the lookout.

“Armed robbery syndicates, including company employees and associates leaking information to criminals, are warned that their days are numbered,” Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi who is the Senior Staff Officer responsible for Press and Public Relations, said in a statement.