Armed robbers loot grocery, escape in victim’s car after Karoi shop raid
By Staff Reporter
Armed robbers pounced on a Karoi shop owner, seizing his vehicle before helping themselves on loads of grocery from the business.
For the crime, Philimon Sithole (25), Norman Timu (29) and Stephen Ndaradzi (24) were dragged before a Karoi magistrate who each sentenced them to 12 years imprisonment.
The incident, according to a report by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), happened on 10 November, 2024, at around 1am, at Mabhero Shop, in Karoi.
“…The complainant who is a shop owner was awakened by a loud bang as three masked individuals forcibly entered his shop at Kingsgrove Business Centre”, said NPA, adding, “One of the offenders, armed with an iron bar, assaulted the complainant and demanded money, while another fired a gunshot.”
“The complainant panicked and gave them US$800 and his car keys. The offenders loaded the complainant’s Nissan NV200 with groceries, including sugar, flour, macaroni, cooking oil, and other items, along with his cell phone, before fleeing.”
Police later recovered a spent cartridge at the scene.
The robbers ran out of luck when Timu and Ndaradzi were arrested on 14 November 2024 by detectives in Chinhoyi who found the pair drinking at a bottle store in Lucky 7 shops after receiving information that they had robbed another victim while traveling in a Honda Fit.
The two, according to NPA, implicated Sithole and two others who are still at large .
Sithole was arrested in the Chinhoyi CBD and was found with his victim’s stolen cell phone.
Police went on to recover stolen goods, including sugar, flour, macaroni, washing powder, cooking oil, peanut butter, and sweets, from Sithole and Ndaradzi’s homes.
Timu and Ndaradzi also led detectives to Marondera where they had abandoned the stolen vehicle after evading arrest.
The vehicle and additional items, including an electric shocker and balaclavas, were recovered. The total value of stolen goods was US$8,600, and the value of recovered goods is US$7,115 recovered.
