Armed robbers pretend to be traffic cops on roads across Manicaland Province. These fake officers wear police uniforms and create phony roadblocks to trap drivers, especially those operating delivery trucks. They already struck twice on the same day last month along different highways.
During daylight hours, these criminals stopped a Kitoko Brandy truck on the Nyazura-Chivhu Highway. They stole $3,285 cash plus other items from the driver. Later that night, these same crooks robbed a Parnmart delivery truck traveling the Rusape-Nyanga Highway, making off with $1,115 cash and several phones.
Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka from the Manicaland police confirmed these robberies happened recently. He explained how these fake cops wave down vehicles just like real officers would do. Most drivers naturally stop because the robbers look exactly like actual traffic police in their uniforms.
After stopping vehicles, these criminals lock the drivers inside the cargo areas of their trucks. The police report mentioned Mattaparthi Sirinivas Rso, who runs Kitoko Brandy, and his employee Shorai Nyakufuka fell victim to these criminals. The robbers pulled out a machete when the men asked questions.
On February 22, Rso from Southerton, Harare, traveled with Nyakufuka from Eastview, who drove their DAF truck toward Chivhu. Around 11 a.m., near the 122km marker, they spotted three men dressed as police officers wearing traffic sleeves. One robber signaled for the truck to stop, and Nyakufuka obeyed the command.
The fake officer told Nyakufuka he needed to inspect the truck's cargo area. The driver turned off the engine and walked to the back with one suspect. Nyakufuka opened the door and showed him what they carried. The criminal ordered him to climb inside for a better look at everything, but Nyakufuka refused to enter.
An argument started, and the criminal punched Nyakufuka several times in the face. Then he pulled out a machete, tied the driver's hands with shoelaces, and forced him into the cargo area. At the same time, another criminal pretended to check permit documents from Rso but never actually looked at them.
The second criminal handcuffed Rso cut his seat belts, and pushed him into the back of the truck. Both victims ended up locked inside the cargo area. The criminals searched through their belongings and stole $3,285 cash, truck keys, a power bank, a brown satchel, and earbuds before running away.
The trapped men yelled for help until someone passing by rescued them. They reported the crime to the police at ZRP Buhera, who came to investigate. The total value of stolen items reached $3,684, and nothing has been recovered yet. Police continue searching for these dangerous criminals who remain free.
During daylight hours, these criminals stopped a Kitoko Brandy truck on the Nyazura-Chivhu Highway. They stole $3,285 cash plus other items from the driver. Later that night, these same crooks robbed a Parnmart delivery truck traveling the Rusape-Nyanga Highway, making off with $1,115 cash and several phones.
Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka from the Manicaland police confirmed these robberies happened recently. He explained how these fake cops wave down vehicles just like real officers would do. Most drivers naturally stop because the robbers look exactly like actual traffic police in their uniforms.
After stopping vehicles, these criminals lock the drivers inside the cargo areas of their trucks. The police report mentioned Mattaparthi Sirinivas Rso, who runs Kitoko Brandy, and his employee Shorai Nyakufuka fell victim to these criminals. The robbers pulled out a machete when the men asked questions.
On February 22, Rso from Southerton, Harare, traveled with Nyakufuka from Eastview, who drove their DAF truck toward Chivhu. Around 11 a.m., near the 122km marker, they spotted three men dressed as police officers wearing traffic sleeves. One robber signaled for the truck to stop, and Nyakufuka obeyed the command.
The fake officer told Nyakufuka he needed to inspect the truck's cargo area. The driver turned off the engine and walked to the back with one suspect. Nyakufuka opened the door and showed him what they carried. The criminal ordered him to climb inside for a better look at everything, but Nyakufuka refused to enter.
An argument started, and the criminal punched Nyakufuka several times in the face. Then he pulled out a machete, tied the driver's hands with shoelaces, and forced him into the cargo area. At the same time, another criminal pretended to check permit documents from Rso but never actually looked at them.
The second criminal handcuffed Rso cut his seat belts, and pushed him into the back of the truck. Both victims ended up locked inside the cargo area. The criminals searched through their belongings and stole $3,285 cash, truck keys, a power bank, a brown satchel, and earbuds before running away.
The trapped men yelled for help until someone passing by rescued them. They reported the crime to the police at ZRP Buhera, who came to investigate. The total value of stolen items reached $3,684, and nothing has been recovered yet. Police continue searching for these dangerous criminals who remain free.
