Staff Reporter
GWERU—Six suspected gold thieves fled into the bushes after the vehicle they were travelling in was involved in a high-speed chase and caught fire in Mberengwa, and police recovered 150 kilograms of gold-bearing carbon worth US$16,500.
The incident occurred at Draw Mark 19 Mine at about 1 a.m. on Sunday after the suspects allegedly broke into underground carbon tanks and stole gold-bearing material.
Midlands police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, said a mine security guard later discovered footprints leading from the mine to a white Honda Fit parked about 100 meters away.
The guard, together with a mine driver, pursued the suspects in a Honda Shuttle vehicle.
“The two vehicles subsequently collided at the Old Bulawayo Road and Mimosa Road junction,” Inspector Mahoko said.
The collision extensively damaged the Honda Fit, which then caught fire. The six occupants abandoned the vehicle and fled into the nearby bushes.
Police officers from the Zvishavane Traffic Section and the Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit attended the scene and recovered the stolen gold-bearing carbon from the burned-out vehicle.
Inspector Mahoko said the entire consignment had been recovered, although the suspects remain at large.
He appealed to members of the public with information that could assist police in identifying and apprehending the suspects to report to their nearest police station.
Investigations are ongoing.
