Zvikomborero Parafini
THE five suspected armed robbers, who engaged in a shootout with police last week in Waterfalls, were arrested and dragged to court over the weekend.
The gang was tracked down through a car, which was being driven by Patricia Mutedzi, which was spotted in a CCTV footage as their getaway car.
Upon arrest and questioning, Mutedzi implicated her accomplices — Munyaradzi Jonga 34, Munyaradzi Sandaka 33, Dereck Mafoti 39 and Tinotenda Foto 19.
The police raided Jonga’s house and he attempted to flee before shooting at police officers.
He was shot on his leg.
Sandaka also attempted to resist arrest and was shot on the shin.
The court heard that on January 22, the gang connived to rob the complainant, who is unnamed in the state papers.
Armed with a revolver, the gang broke into the house in Waterfalls and confronted the complainant who was putting on earphones listening to music.
They ordered her to keep quiet and lead them to her father’s bedroom. She gave them the keys to her father’s bedroom.
They ransacked the room and stole US$13 000 that was in the safe, polished emeralds, a diamond scale, a gold scale, wrist watches and tittle deeds.
They loaded the safe in their getaway car and, upon arrest, led the police to a pool in Epworth where they dumped the safe after blasting it.
The police also recovered the gold scale and emeralds.