ZRP Foils Armed Robbery Syndicate

Four suspected armed robbers were shot dead in a dramatic gun battle with police near the Norton Tollgate along the Harare–Bulawayo Road on 3 October, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed.

In a press statement by, police said the shootout involved detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide who had been tracking a “motorized syndicate” believed to have entered Zimbabwe from South Africa to carry out robberies in Harare, Bulawayo, and Kwekwe.

According to police, the suspects opened fire on detectives who were trailing them, prompting what was described as a “serious exchange of fire.”

Four suspects were fatally shot during the confrontation, while two CID detectives sustained serious injuries and are currently hospitalized.

The ZRP confirmed that two of the deceased suspects are foreign nationals.

Following the shootout, police recovered the suspects’ getaway vehicle, a Toyota Axio, as well as firearms: a Girsan 9mm Parabellum pistol with two rounds and another 9mm Parabellum pistol with one round.

Investigators also retrieved critical evidence linking one of the suspects to a recent armed robbery on 30 September. Among the recovered items were a pair of Relay grey army green shoes and a black navy-blue jacket inscribed “Grey Wolf,” which match clothing captured on CCTV during the earlier crime.

The ZRP reiterated its commitment to combating violent crime and urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement in reporting suspicious activities.