BULAWAYO police have warned motorists against offering transport to strangers amid revelations that robbers targeting private motorists are on the prowl in the city.
BLONDIE NDEBELE
In a statement last week, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said: “We would like to warn the motoring public that there is a gang of robbers on the prowl that is targeting motorists.”
Moyo said two cases of armed robbery involving motorists were reported to the police last week.
He said in one incident, a 29-year-old Magwegwe suburb man offered transport to a group of strangers who had requested for a lift. However, when they reached Kensington industrial area, three of them reportedly produced knives and ordered the driver to stop.
“He complied and they took away his property that included cellphones and cash. They also took property from other passengers and drove away in his car. The vehicle was later recovered in Magwegwe suburb.”
Moyo said on Tuesday last week, a similar incident happened when a 30-year-old Matsheumhlope man offered a lift to three men. “When he arrived at Leeside shopping centre, he stopped the vehicle and told them he had reached his destination,” Moyo said.
He said two of the passengers produced knives and ordered the driver to drive along Old Esigodini Road towards Gumtree area.
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Moyo added: “When they arrived at corner old Esigodini and Hope Fountain roads, they ordered him to stop and one of the men took over from the driver and drove towards How Mine. They dumped the driver and his female companion at a bushy area before driving away.”
The vehicle was recovered along Matopos Road abandoned after being involved in an accident.
