Zimbabwean police in Beitbridge have arrested the three notorious armed robbers who had allegedly robbed a South African tourist on a visit in that country of his traveling bag containing clothes and other valuable belongings, a cellphone, Z$130 million and R3 000, as well as an undisclosed amount in US dollars, at gunpoint along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Road, outside Beitbridge town, Mirror has established.
The Matabeleland South provincial police spokesman, Assistant Inspector Trust Ndlovu, told Mirror that the three suspects were arrested at Dulibadzimu suburb in Beitbridge, following a public tip-off, and two pistols were also recovered. The pistols were smuggled from South Africa through Beitbridge border post.
"We arrested the three suspected armed robbers on Monday and we also recovered two loaded CZ pistols. As police, we would like to commend community members for offering us a tip-off, which eventually led to the suspects' arrest," he said.
The trio is expected to appear in court soon to face armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms charges.
The victim, who is a South African, was on his way to Masvingo town and he had decided to make a stop over at a lay-bye point when the suspects confronted him.
The suspects, who were armed with a pistol, then fired a shot in the air after which they robbed him of his money, a cellphone and a traveling bag containing his clothes before they disappeared into a nearby bushy area. The incident occurred on October 7, at a 4km peg outside Beitbridge.
The victim then drove back to Beitbridge town where he reported the matter to the police.
Meanwhile, earlier on, two other men from Harare were also robbed of a JVC car radio, two cellphones and some cash. The incident happened on the same day at the same point. The two men were driving towards Beitbridge, en route to South Africa.
Ndlovu said: "We suspect the armed robbers operated as a syndicate in which they were targeting motorists along the highways."
The three suspects were arrested following a week-long run.
"We continue to urge motorists to be extra-cautious and they should also utilize lay-bye points which are nearer to service or business centers to avoid such incidents," said the police spokesman.