Gardener Steals US$3.5 Million gold from employer
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Bulawayo have arrested two men, former gardener Andrew Chirasha (28) and Ngonidzashe Kunguya (28) from the Killarney suburb, for allegedly stealing cash and gold worth millions from their former employer’s house.
Chirasha was once employed as a gardener by the complainant, a 35-year-old resident of Killarney. Police allege that Chirasha and his accomplice, Kunguya, monitored the complainant’s movements and snuck into the house via the kitchen door using a screwdriver. They allegedly stole either gold or cash from the bedroom and left unnoticed, reported the Chronicle.
The alleged thefts occurred over a period of five months, between August and December 2022. At first, they took US$900 in cash without the complainant reporting it. They later took US$400, US$6,000, 12 kg of gold, and 45 kg of gold on different occasions. The complainant did not report these thefts as there were no signs of a break-in.
Chirasha fled when the complainant suspected him of being behind the thefts. However, the complainant later received a tip-off that Chirasha was at Mahatshula Shops. He alerted the police who arrested Chirasha, and he later admitted to committing a series of unlawful entry and theft cases. He also implicated Kunguya, who was subsequently arrested.
Bulawayo Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube urged the public not to keep large sums of money and valuables like gold in their houses. He also recommended using target hardening techniques in homes by increasing doors and windows burglar bars’ security.