Police in Beit Bridge made a breakthrough when they arrested 12 suspects linked to an armed robbery syndicate which recently robbed South African travellers and locals of their cash and goods along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road.

The local police spokesperson, Insp. Tafanana Dzirutwe, said the suspects, among them four local police officers, mounted illegal roadblocks along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road where they would then rob travellers coming from South Africa of their goods, groceries and cash.

“In the first incident, which occurred in December last year, the suspects robbed a South African motorist of US$8000, R2780 and groceries. The robbers then descended on a local woman, stripping her of 25 bags of mealie meal and huge consignments of imported beer and groceries on 17 January. The suspects would team up and mount illegal roadblocks along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road, where they would then rob unsuspecting travellers of their monies and goods,” he said.

Insp Dzirutwe said the suspects were arrested on Saturday, 31 January, following a tip-off.

“We received a tip-off, resulting in our officers’ arresting eight suspects, who in turn implicated the four police officers, bringing the number of suspects arrested so far to 12,” said the police spokesperson. Police recovered a Mazda bakkie worth R50 000, refrigerators, TVs, DVD players and washing machines and groceries. The suspects used the money to purchase the goods, which have since been seized by the po-lice.

“We would like to urge community members and the victims who have missing property to visit the Beit Bridge police station where they can possibly identify their stolen goods. We are also encouraging people to continue providing us with information, so that we can arrest the other suspects who form part of the syndicate,” he said

Of late, there has been increase in the number of armed robbery cases along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road. Recently, three South African travellers were robbed of R20 000 and US$ 3000 by three knife-wielding suspects at a popular picnic spot along the same high-way.

“We have been receiving several armed robbery cases occurring along the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road since December last year and we suspect these people were involved in the spate of robberies. We are, however, continuing with our investigations,” Insp Dzirutwe said.

The suspects are expected to appear in court soon on charges of armed robbery.