Gas stations across Bulawayo have started shutting down at night because armed gangs keep robbing them. These criminals began hitting fuel businesses last year and keep stealing large amounts of foreign money. Station owners and workers feel scared as these dangerous attacks hurt their businesses and stop them from serving customers who need fuel.
Just last Tuesday night, robbers stole US$2,374 plus ZAR115,235 from a station in the Kelvin industrial area. Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the station owner saw everything happen from his Toyota Hilux parked nearby. The gang noticed him watching them attack his staff. They fired guns into the air to scare him away from helping his employees.
The armed men forced all workers to lay flat on the ground before they grabbed the cash. That same group probably attacked another station in Tshabalala recently. They took US$440 and stole a Toyota Altezza worth US$3,200. They later left this car abandoned in the Pumula neighborhood after shooting their guns and beating up workers.
Commissioner Nyathi asks anyone with information about these masked criminals to contact the police immediately. He emphasizes that these dangerous people live among regular citizens and warns the public not to hide these violent offenders from authorities. The police suggest business owners improve security by adding cameras and electronic alarms to protect their property from future attacks.
Just last Tuesday night, robbers stole US$2,374 plus ZAR115,235 from a station in the Kelvin industrial area. Police Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the station owner saw everything happen from his Toyota Hilux parked nearby. The gang noticed him watching them attack his staff. They fired guns into the air to scare him away from helping his employees.
The armed men forced all workers to lay flat on the ground before they grabbed the cash. That same group probably attacked another station in Tshabalala recently. They took US$440 and stole a Toyota Altezza worth US$3,200. They later left this car abandoned in the Pumula neighborhood after shooting their guns and beating up workers.
Commissioner Nyathi asks anyone with information about these masked criminals to contact the police immediately. He emphasizes that these dangerous people live among regular citizens and warns the public not to hide these violent offenders from authorities. The police suggest business owners improve security by adding cameras and electronic alarms to protect their property from future attacks.
