A group of armed bandits slipped pass police officers at a road block to pull off a daring heist at two nearby petrol stations early Friday morning.
Chinhoyi’s businesses have been hit at least seven times this year, but the heist on Friday was committed with relative ease by the robbers.
The armed robbers who were eight (8) in number, pounced on two service stations and stole money and goods worth nearly $30 000.
The whole raid occurred on Friday at around 1:45am.
They were driving a Toyota Harrier and were armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol when they pounced on a guard manning the PetroTrade Service Station.
One of them struck the guard once with a metal bar before tying his hands with tape and also taped his mouth to prevent him from making noise. They broke into the service station’s convenience store and gained entry into the manager’s office. The robbers stole a computer, a Chubb safe containing $1 280 and PetroTrade fuel coupons and motor oil stock all valued at $28 600 before hot wiring a Nissan Vannette truck parked outside.
They loaded the loot and left in the two vehicles. After the robbery, six of the robbers allegedly proceeded to Trek Petroleum Service station in the same town in the stolen Nissan Vannette truck.
They drove to the pump and asked the attendant to fill their truck with 20 litres of petrol.
As the attendant was about to start refuelling, one of the robbers jumped out of the truck and grabbed him from the back demanding all the money he had.
Others joined in and they searched him and took away $505 from his pockets while two others went to the office and ordered the attendant to surrender all the cash.
They took away $354 from his pockets, but panicked after seeing another truck coming to refuel.
They fired a shot in the air and drove off at high speed. Police investigations are in progress.(State Media/Additional Reporting)