Rusape Robbers Arrested After Dropping Gun and Cellphones at Crime Scene
Two men were arrested after a robbery at the Rusape Dam pump station went wrong due to their own mistake.
Their capture came after they accidentally dropped a stolen gun and two cellphones at the scene, which allowed police to track them down.
Also Read: Mukuru Robbery: Police Details How Armed Robbers Stole More than US$78 000 and R501 000
Security Guard Overpowered During Theft
Leeroy Maphosa and Pfumai Kubangaradza appeared before Rusape magistrate Tendai Mahwe, admitting to forcibly taking a security guard’s firearm during a botched heist.
According to the prosecution, the robbery took place on February 19, 2026, when Leeroy Maphosa (32) and Pfumai Kubangaradza (43), together with four accomplices yet to be apprehended, targeted 47-year-old Obert Masharata, a security guard at the dam.
The suspects intended to steal armoured cable from a water pump. They overpowered Masharata, tied his hands and legs with rope, and took his 12-bore shotgun, two live rounds, and cellphone. The men then cut 12 meters of cable using a bolt cutter before attempting to flee the scene.
Masharata’s supervisor arrived shortly thereafter for routine checks, prompting the suspects to abandon the operation and flee.
Mistakes Lead to Arrest
Investigators said the criminals made several errors during their escape. They dropped the stolen gun, Maphosa’s cellphone, and the security guard’s phone along the way.
The recovered items, along with the bolt cutter and ropes left behind, allowed police to trace and identify the perpetrators. On March 10, 2026, detectives arrested the duo at Vengere Bus Terminus, and the following day they were escorted back to the crime scene to confirm details.
The total value of the stolen property was US$1,000, of which US$600 was recovered.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The men were sentenced to five years in prison each, with six months suspended for good behaviour and an additional six months suspended on condition they repay US$200 each. They will serve a total of four years behind bars.
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