Armed gang robs ZIMRE Park home of $6,667

Five armed robbers ripped through two ZIMRE Park homes in Masvingo at 2 am, tying up five victims and walking away with over US$6,600 in cash and property.

Five robbers hit ZIMRE Park in Masvingo

• A gang of five forced their way into Rudo Zvingambi Shabha's home using a crowbar.
• Shabha, 63, was restrained with tyre levers and handed over US$1,800.
• Herbert Rice, 20, lost US$3,600, and Lynn Chiripamberi, 42, surrendered US$180 before both were tied up.
• The gang yanked all three victims' SIM cards and dumped them outside to kill any chance of a quick distress call.

Robbers cross the road and hit a second house

• The gang then targeted the home of pharmacist Simbarashe Chamboko, 39, and Wensley Chamboko across the street.
• Several shots were fired before the robbers crowbarred their way through the front door.
• The couple barricaded their bedroom door, but the robbers blasted through it anyway.
• A Samsung Note worth US$400, a laptop worth US$600, US$87 in cash, and R100 were taken, along with pharmacy keys.

Security teams missed the robbers by minutes

• Wensley quietly tipped off Absolute Security's reaction squad mid-robbery after hearing suspicious noises.
• The security team locked down the pharmacy after learning the keys had been taken.
• Absolute Security arrived just after the robbers had cleared out of both properties.
• Police showed up roughly 30 minutes after the gang had already fled the area.