In a brazen early-morning raid, a group of at least five armed robbers targeted a Fawcett Security facility in Chipinge, making off with a staggering US$111,000 and R1.28 million.
The robbers struck just before 3AM, first ambushing two Fawcett Security guards who were on patrol in the town center.
According to Zimlive, the guards were forced into the back of their van, where their hands were tied with cable ties.
The robbers then drove to a secluded location, where additional accomplices joined, bringing tools like grinders, hammers, and torches.
The robbers disguised themselves as Fawcett guards by taking the guards’ jackets and caps. Posing as security personnel, they drove to the Fawcett depot, where local businesses store their overnight cash.
The robbers’ bold plan allowed them to gain access to the facility and escape with a massive haul of cash.
“Upon arrival at the office main gate, the accused persons managed to deceive a guard who was manning the entrance to open for them.
The accused persons entered the yard and when the guard was closing the gate, two of the robbers jumped from the motor vehicle and manhandled him and force marched him towards the offices with both of his hands tied with cable ties from the back,” an internal police memo of the incident, seen by ZimLive, says.
The robbers swiftly disarmed two Fawcett guards, taking their Rossi Revolver and short g_n. They then disabled the security infrastructure by smashing exterior lights, shattering the manager’s office window, and cutting power to the alarm system and siren.
In the control room, they overpowered another guard, seizing his revolver and gaining control of the CCTV.
With all guards subdued, the robbers used a grinder to breach the vault door and accessed six metal cash boxes.
They systematically broke the padlocks and extracted the cash, loading it into the Fawcett vehicle.
“The robbers then bundled all the Fawcett guards into the cash compartment of the van and drove off to a bushy area at Mooilsplas Farm, 6km north of Chipinge, where they dumped the guards and the motor vehicle,” police said.
“The robbers then bundled all the Fawcett guards into the cash compartment of the van and drove off to a bushy area at Mooilsplas Farm, 6km north of Chipinge, where they dumped the guards and the motor vehicle,” police said.
