Presidential Guard arrested for armed robbery in Beatrice
Two soldiers from the Presidential Guard and a third man who retired from the same army unit were recently arrested after robbing a family at a farm in Beatrice, Mashonaland East Province.
Munyaradzi Munyuki (27), Busani Moyo (29), and Shadreck Kadira (33) allegedly stole property worth US$2 135 in the robbery on the night of 28 February.
Munyuki and Moyo are members of the elite 1st Presidential Guard Battalion, while Kadira left the service.
The three suspects, working in cahoots with three others who are still at large, stormed Houmoed Farm where they quickly overpowered Luke Williams (19) who was relaxed in his bedroom cottage.
The robbers reportedly tied Willians with shoelaces and pointed a gun at him, forcing him to hand US$250 to them.
The suspects then moved on to the main house where they woke up David George Rickards (67), and his wife Philliper Rickards (62).
Police said Philliper handed over US$850 to the robbers after they had threatened to shoot him.
The robbers then forced the couple to open the safe which had Z$1 000 in Z$5 notes but they did not take anything.
One of the robbers tried to switch off the outside lights, thereby triggering the alarm.
This woke up farmworkers and the Richards’ son, Stewart, who called Beatrice police.
The robbers reportedly fled, splitting into two groups of three, with one of the groups comprising the two soldiers and the former soldier running towards the Harare-Masvingo Road.
Police officers tracked their footprints and observed Munyuki, Moyo and Kadira trying to flag down vehicles heading towards Harare.
Police sourced a private vehicle that stopped and gave the suspects a lift, before driving towards Harare.
Meanwhile, a trap had been set at a police roadblock 20km out of Beatrice and the trio was placed under arrest.
US$160, US$172 and US$155 was recovered from each of the suspects as well as a bracelet and a knife stolen at the farm.
Police were still hunting for the three other suspects only identified as Shumba Murambwi, a Junior and one Kheda.
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