Armed robbers have reportedly raided a branch of ZB Bank Limited in Triangle, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe, shooting a private security guard who responded to the bank’s alarm before escaping with an undisclosed amount of cash.
According to a report by My Zimbabwe News, the incident occurred at about 2am on Tuesday when the commercial area was largely deserted.
The security guard, identified as being in the employment of Fawcett Security, was reportedly shot in the chest when he arrived at the bank after the alarm was triggered.
The report said the guard survived the attack because he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
The attackers were also said to have overpowered and tied up security personnel guarding the bank and nearby business premises before taking the Fawcett guard’s firearm.
Their getaway vehicle was later reportedly found abandoned at Ngundu as the suspects fled the area.
Masvingo police spokesperson, Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa, reportedly said he had not received a formal report on the incident when contacted for comment.
The amount of money allegedly stolen from the bank was not disclosed, while details of the number of suspects involved and the method used to gain entry into the premises remained unclear.
The Triangle incident comes weeks after another robbery at ZB Bank Limited’s Mpandawana branch in Gutu, where suspected robbers reportedly gained entry through the roof and used explosives to break open an automated teller machine before fleeing with cash.
The Gutu incident was reportedly discovered after the bank’s alarm was activated.
The branch manager, who went to the premises to investigate, was said to have sustained injuries while escaping from the building.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over the security of banks and other businesses that handle large amounts of cash, particularly in smaller commercial centres.
The report also noted that the Triangle and Gutu incidents form part of a wider series of night-time attacks on banks, ATMs, mobile-money outlets and cash-handling businesses in different parts of Zimbabwe.
Source: My Zimbabwe News except headline
