Three crooks dress up as traffic cops and target drivers on Manicaland roads, especially those carrying goods. These fake officers wear police uniforms and set up phony checkpoints along major highways. They pulled off two robberies during one day last month—first on the Nyazura-Chivhu Highway and later on the Rusape-Nyanga Highway.
They stopped a Kitoko Brandy truck at their fake roadblock during daylight hours and stole $3,285 plus other items. That same night, they hit again, taking $1,115 and cell phones from a Parnmart delivery vehicle. Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka speaks for Manicaland police and has confirmed these crimes happened.
The robbers fool drivers by looking like real traffic police. People stop because they trust the uniforms, but then the thieves attack them and lock them inside their trucks. One victim, Kitoko Brandy director Mattaparthi Sirinivas Rso, was traveling with his driver, Shorai Nyakufuka, when they fell into this trap on February 22.
Rso works from Southerton, Harare, and Nyakufuka lives in Eastview. They drove a DAF truck until reaching the 122km marker around 11 AM. The fake cops flagged them down, and believing everything seemed normal, Nyakufuka stopped the truck. One thief asked to check what they carried.
Nyakufuka stepped out and opened the back but refused when told to climb inside. The criminal beat him repeatedly, pulled out a machete, tied his hands with shoelaces, and forced him into the cargo area. Another thief pretended to check Rso's papers before suddenly handcuffing him, cutting the seat belts, and shoving him back there as well.
The crooks searched both men thoroughly, stealing $3,285 cash, truck keys, a power bank, a brown satchel, and earphones. They locked their victims inside and ran away. Later, both men called for help until someone passing by rescued them. They reported everything to ZRP Buhera police, who responded quickly. Total losses reached $3,684.
Police continue looking for these dangerous suspects as their investigation moves forward. The criminals remain free somewhere out there on the roads of Manicaland.
They stopped a Kitoko Brandy truck at their fake roadblock during daylight hours and stole $3,285 plus other items. That same night, they hit again, taking $1,115 and cell phones from a Parnmart delivery vehicle. Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka speaks for Manicaland police and has confirmed these crimes happened.
The robbers fool drivers by looking like real traffic police. People stop because they trust the uniforms, but then the thieves attack them and lock them inside their trucks. One victim, Kitoko Brandy director Mattaparthi Sirinivas Rso, was traveling with his driver, Shorai Nyakufuka, when they fell into this trap on February 22.
Rso works from Southerton, Harare, and Nyakufuka lives in Eastview. They drove a DAF truck until reaching the 122km marker around 11 AM. The fake cops flagged them down, and believing everything seemed normal, Nyakufuka stopped the truck. One thief asked to check what they carried.
Nyakufuka stepped out and opened the back but refused when told to climb inside. The criminal beat him repeatedly, pulled out a machete, tied his hands with shoelaces, and forced him into the cargo area. Another thief pretended to check Rso's papers before suddenly handcuffing him, cutting the seat belts, and shoving him back there as well.
The crooks searched both men thoroughly, stealing $3,285 cash, truck keys, a power bank, a brown satchel, and earphones. They locked their victims inside and ran away. Later, both men called for help until someone passing by rescued them. They reported everything to ZRP Buhera police, who responded quickly. Total losses reached $3,684.
Police continue looking for these dangerous suspects as their investigation moves forward. The criminals remain free somewhere out there on the roads of Manicaland.
